Remembering Pearl Harbor

  

USS Arizona (BB-39) sunk and burning furiously, 7 December 1941. Her forward magazines had exploded when she was hit by a Japanese bomb. At left, men on the stern of USS Tennessee (BB-43) are playing fire hoses on the water to force burning oil away from their ship
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

 

AP: "In this Dec. 7, 1941 file photo, the battleship USS Arizona belches smoke as it topples over into the sea during a Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Wednesday is the 70th anniversary of the attack that brought the United States into World War II."

 

 

USS Utah (AG-16): Capsizing off Ford Island, during the attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, after being torpedoed by Japanese aircraft. Photographed from USS Tangier (AV-8), which was moored astern of Utah. Note colors half-raised over fantail, boats nearby, and sheds covering Utah's after guns.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

Sailors in a motor launch rescue a survivor from the water alongside the sunken USS West Virginia (BB-48) during or shortly after the Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor. USS Tennessee (BB-43) is inboard of the sunken battleship. Note extensive distortion of West Virginia's lower midships superstructure, caused by torpedoes that exploded below that location. Also note 5"/25 gun, still partially covered with canvas, boat crane swung outboard and empty boat cradles near the smokestacks, and base of radar antenna atop West Virginia's foremast.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

 

By Nicholas Stix

December 7, 2011
 
(Reprinted from the 2009 commemoration, plus 20 photographs from U.S. National Archives shot during and after the sneak attack, an anonymous essay on the devastation, and a new AP article.)

"December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy." (Listen to the recording here.)

That's how FDR reacted to the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, which claimed over 3,500 casualties: 2,335 servicemen killed, 68 civilians killed, and 1,178 wounded, half the Pacific Fleet, and 188 fighter planes on the ground. (Back then, as in my childhood during the War in Vietnam, we didn't use the euphemism "injured," as if someone had gotten hurt in an accident.)

 

"The moment the magazine exploded on the destroyer USS Shaw…"/AP

 

Prior to 911, Pearl Harbor was the deadliest attack on American soil. Just because it's now number two, is no reason to forget it. Indeed, there are very good reasons to never forget it: 1. The carnage itself bears remembering—those were American boys lost while serving their country, our country; 2. The fact that Pearl was a huge military base, yet was totally unprepared for the attack; and 3. The way America fought back.

 

Although at the time, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was by far the most leftwing president we had ever had, you will not find him shying away from giving offense to the enemy, or permitting enemy fronts to dictate war, propaganda, or domestic social policy, as both George W. Bush and the John Doe calling himself "Barack Obama" have done. We did not permit our enemies to immigrate into the United States, and give them legal privileges we do not even give our own patriotic citizens. We did not have a President who has openly expressed his loyalty to the enemy. Indeed, we called our enemies, "the Japs" and "the Gerries," and ridiculed them relentlessly, the way one does when one is serious about winning, and interned thousands of their co-ethnics who were on American soil.

 

America cannot prosecute a war multiculturally and win, because the whole point of multiculturalism, as devised by racial socialists, is to make America unable to defend herself against enemies foreign and domestic, and thereby destroy her.

And so we have spectacles such as Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, who is more worried about the feelings of Moslem terrorists than about protecting his own men, and thus not only tolerating, but retaining and promoting, and thus encouraging murderous terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan.

Unlike the Japs on December 7, 1941, Hasan gave abundant warning of what he was about. But the Army variously ignored and censored the truth, and 14 people, including one unborn child died, so as not to offend Hasan's delicate, Moslem terrorist sensibilities.

And still, the Army and Marine Corps prostrate themselves before our enemies. Army Colonel Scot Mackenzie censors the truth, when he writes that the Afghans have a "God-willing mentality." Colonel, you know damned well, that that's an "Allah-willing" mentality.

But according to Time's Mark Thompson, U.S. Marine Corps Captain Jason

 

Moore goes Colonel Mackenzie one better: He apologizes for our protecting our own men.

Joint U.S.-Afghan operations are plagued by mistrust, with the living quarters of allied and Afghan troops separated by walls, razor wire, guarded gates and machine-gun nests. "Currently, coalition forces eat, sleep and play in separate spaces from the people they are trying to train," U.S. Marine Captain Jason Moore noted in a report earlier this year for the Corps' Command and Staff College at Quantico, Va. In part, that's because Taliban sympathizers in the Afghan military have shot and killed U.S. troops. "Intentional or not, it conveys a sense of distrust, hostility and disrespect to their hosts."

 

They're trying to kill us, but God—or is that "Allah"—forbid, we should offend their delicate, Moslem terrorist sensibilities.

And please remind me why we're heading towards a tab of $1 trillion in Afghanistan alone, defending people who are literally shooting us in the back. If this country weren't led by traitors, we would have long ago drummed Gen. Casey—who owes his present job to that great embracer of Islam, George W. Bush—out of the Army, and Capt. Moore out of the Marine Corps. Instead, Casey is on his way to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Moore is on his way to being a general officer, because disloyalty to America is the surest way up the military career ladder, these days.

 

One more thing—when reading the passages,

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory….

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger,

Keep in mind that a "premeditated invasion" has been undertaken against America in the present day, and that "There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger."

* * *

 

 

 

FDR's Pearl Harbor Speech

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message.

And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

 

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

 

 

Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.

 

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

Franklin D. Roosevelt - December 8, 1941

* * *

(My thanks to the good folks at The History Place for publishing FDR's speech online. A tip 'o the hat, as well, to Diana West.)

 

 

Pearl Harbor

(I found this unsigned article, along with many of the pictures appearing in this presentation, at this Web site, whose anonymous proprietor I heartily thank.)

On Sunday, December 7th, 1941 the Japanese launched a surprise attack against the U.S. Forces stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. By planning his attack on a Sunday, the Japanese commander Admiral Nagumo, hoped to catch the entire fleet in port. As luck would have it, the aircraft carriers and one of the battleships were not in port. (The USS Enterprise was returning from Wake Island, where it had just delivered some aircraft. The USS Lexington was ferrying aircraft to Midway, and the USS Saratoga and USS Colorado were undergoing repairs in the United States).

 

 

In spite of the latest intelligence reports about the missing aircraft carriers (his most important targets), Admiral Nagumo decided to continue the attack with his force of six carriers and 423 aircraft. At a range of 230 miles north of Oahu , he launched the first wave of a two-wave attack. Beginning at 0600 hours his first wave consisted of 183 fighters and torpedo bombers, which struck at the fleet in Pearl Harbor and the airfields in Hickam, Kaneohe, and Ewa. The second strike, launched at 0715 hours, consisted of 167 aircraft, which again struck at the same targets.

 

 

At 0753 hours the first wave consisting of 40 Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" torpedo bombers, 51 Aichi D3A1 "Val" dive bombers, 50 high altitude bombers and 43 Zeros struck airfields and Pearl Harbor within the next hour, the second wave arrived and continued the attack.

 

When it was over, the U.S. losses were:

Casualties

USA : 218 KIA, 364 WIA (WIA=Wounded in action).

USN: 2,008 KIA, 710 WIA.

USMC: 109 KIA, 69 WIA.

Civilians: 68 KIA, 35 WIA.

TOTAL: 2,403 KIA, 1,178 WIA.

Battleships

USS Arizona (BB-39): Total loss when a bomb hit her magazine.

USS Oklahoma (BB-37): Total loss when she capsized and sank in the harbor.

USS California (BB-44): Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.

USS West Virginia (BB-48): Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.

USS Nevada (BB-36): Beached to prevent sinking. Later repaired.

USS Pennsylvania (BB-38): Light damage.

USS Maryland (BB-46): Light damage.

USS Tennessee (BB-43): Light damage.

USS Utah (AG-16) (former battleship used as a target): Sunk.

Cruisers

USS New Orleans (CA-32): Light damage.

USS San Francisco (CA-38): Light damage.

USS Detroit (CL-8): Light damage.

USS Raleigh (CL-7): Heavily damaged, but repaired.

USS Helena (CL-50): Light damage.

USS Honolulu (CL-48): Light damage.

Destroyers

USS Downes (DD-375): Destroyed; parts salvaged.

USS Cassin (DD-372): Destroyed; parts salvaged.

USS Shaw (DD-373): Very heavy damage.

USS Helm (DD-388): Light damage.

Minelayer

USS Ogala (CM-4): Sunk, but later raised and repaired.

Seaplane Tender

USS Curtiss (AV-4): Severely damaged, but later repaired.

Repair Ship

USS Vestal (AR-4): Severely damaged but later repaired.

Harbor Tug

USS Sotoyomo (YT-9): Sunk but later raised and repaired.

Aircraft

188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 U.S Army Air Corps).

 

 

 

Pearl Harbor Attack Remembered at 70th Anniversary

December 7, 2011

 Associated Press

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – The Dec. 7, 1941, bombing of Pearl Harbor and those who lost their lives that day are being remembered Wednesday on the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack that brought the U.S. into World War II.

About 120 survivors will join Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, military leaders and civilians to observe a moment of silence in Pearl Harbor at 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time -- the moment the attack began seven decades ago.

About 3,000 people are expected to attend the event held each year at a site overlooking the sunken USS Arizona and the white memorial that straddles the battleship.

The Pearl Harbor-based guided missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon will render honors to the Arizona and blow its whistle at the start of a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m. -- the same time 70 years ago the first Japanese planes began to attack.

F-22 jets flown by the Hawaii National Guard are due to soar overhead in a missing man formation to finish the moment of silence.

Mal Middlesworth, a Marine veteran who was on the USS San Francisco during the bombing, will deliver the keynote address.

President Obama hailed veterans of the bombing in a statement proclaiming Wednesday "National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day."

"Their tenacity helped define the Greatest Generation and their valor fortified all who served during World War II. As a nation, we look to December 7, 1941, to draw strength from the example set by these patriots and to honor all who have sacrificed for our freedoms," he said.

Also this week, five ash scattering and interment ceremonies are being held for five survivors whose cremated remains are returning to Pearl Harbor after their deaths.

On Tuesday, an urn containing the ashes of Lee Soucy was placed on his battleship, the USS Utah, which is lying on its side near the place where it sank 70 years ago. The ashes of Vernon Olsen, who was on the Arizona during the attack, will be placed on his ship late Wednesday.

The U.S. lost 12 vessels that day, but the Arizona and the Utah are the only ones still sitting in the harbor. The ashes of three others are being scattered in the water in separate ceremonies this week.