75 years ago today was December 7th, 1941. Should that date mean something to you? Let's take a look back into history and find out...
December 7th, 1941 was a Sunday. In Pearl Harbor, Hawaii that morning all was calm, quiet, and peaceful. If you were one of the soldiers or sailors stationed there, maybe you were on leave. If you lived there, perhaps you were eating breakfast. Or maybe you were enjoying the weekend by sleeping in.
Whatever the case, your plans were interrupted.
Bomber planes appear in the sky.
Japanese torpedoes slip in unannounced.
The attack begins.
At 7:55 AM the base and nearby town was found themselves under attack by bombers and torpedoes. The USS West Virginia and the California were hit and sunk. More than 200 men were killed. The Utah was hit and capsized. The USS Oklahoma was hit, rolled over, and trapped dozens of men inside – 32 of which were rescued in an agonizing ordeal lasting 36 hours.
At 8:10 AM a bomb exploded into the deck of the USS Arizona. Over a million pounds of gunpowder were ignited – causing an explosion that instantly sunk the ship and killed 1,177 sailors and marines. Killed in such a quick and horrific way. There is now a USS Arizona memorial at the site, built on the remains of the ship. What an amazing place that would be to visit.
The second wave of Japanese bombers arrived at 8:54 AM. By this time, Americans were slightly more informed as to what was taking place – although the questions of why? was no doubt still ringing through many minds. The bombers were met by anti-aircraft fire.
By 10:00 AM the attack was over. The Japanese returned home, leaving the Americans to attempt to rescue the trapped and tend the wounded. An event that lasted just over two hours had such a powerful impact on history.
May we never forget Pearl Harbor, the lives lost that day, or the horrible war that then dragged America into its filthy grip for the next four years of turmoil.
Never forget, always remember.