=============================== Posted on 12/07/2004 6:10:50 AM PST by M. Espinola
December 7th, 1941 -Pearl Harbor Remembrance!
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Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto planned the Pearl Harbor attack. Two things inspired Yamamoto's Pearl Harbor idea: a prophetic book and a historic attack.
The book was The Great Pacific War, written in 1925 by Hector Bywater, a British naval authority. It was a realistic account of a clash between the United States and Japan that begins with the Japanese destruction of the U.S. fleet and proceeds to a Japanese attack on Guam and the Philippines. When Britain's Royal Air Force successfully attacked the Italian fleet at Taranto on November 11th, 1940, Yamamoto was convinced that Bywater's fiction could become reality.
On December 6th, 1941, the U.S. intercepted a Japanese message that inquired about ship movements and berthing positions in Pearl Harbor. The cryptologist gave the message to her superior who said he would get back to her on Monday, December 8th.
On December 7th, a radar operator in Oahu saw a large group of airplanes on his screen heading toward the island. He called his superior who told him it was probably a group of U.S. B-17 bombers and not to worry about it.
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7:55 A.M. on December 7th, 1941. The entire attack took one hour and 15 minutes. Captain Mitsuo Fuchida sent the message, "Tora, Tora, Tora," to the Japanese fleet after flying over Oahu to indicate the Americans had been caught by surprise.
Yesterday, December 7th, 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 Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or 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. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday 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.
Always will we 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 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 very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
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 unbounded 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 seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."
Good Going. As big as the War on Terror is, WWII was our last huge and global shooting war. To have it forgotten too early would be tragic, and events such as the present just develop that much faster.
Aye! I like that site. Nice pic, too, BTW.
Everyone driving around in their Mitsubishi's, Toyota's, infiniti's, honda's, lexus', acura's, nissan's, subaru's, and other crap boxes: Be sure to Remember today!
Super job! Lest we forget.....
I've actually talked to people who thought we lost more men in Vietnam than WWII. Scary.
Great post, thanks!
History we can't forget bump.
Thank you for this. Lots of photos I have never seen before.
Great work. Thanks so much for doing this.
I saw this at another site:
"Remember Pearl Harbor" is a phrase that the baby boomers and the elderly understand. For those millions of Americans not in one of those two groups, December 7th is simply 18 days before Christmas.
The September 11th attack was made possible--in part--because our intelligence services, politicians and Americans forgot about Pearl Harbor.
When a nuclear bomb is detonated by a terrorist in an American city killing hundreds of thousands, it will be because intelligence services, politicians and Americans forgot about September 11th.
http://www.etherzone.com/cgi-bin/gm/blog.shtml
We beat the dog snot out of the Japanese, then showed them true compassion in helping them rebuild their country. Now they are friends and steadfast allies in the WOT. Lighten up.
Whoo...
There are some in my age group who do have a clue. My mother's father was in the army when the war started and saw action in pretty much every part of the European theatre. My other grandfather was a little younger and joined the navy in the summer of 1945. Luckily for him (and by default me as well) Truman decided to remove Hiroshima and Nagasaki from the map instead of going ahead with the invasion of Japan. That would have been a nightmare beyond anything we can imagine.
I'm 35. Just to get an idea of our ages, could I get an age roll call?
I really wonder how different the media was sixty years ago than it is today. The difference back then was the government could use censorship during the war. I have a book of the New York Times front pages during the war. They haven't changed much.
Just turned 28 on Sunday.
34.
My parents were 2 and 6 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. My grandparents did all they could, but they were too old to enlist--worked in shipyards in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and on air bases in New Mexico.
That was a big difference of that war compared to today. Every citizen was involved in the war effort. No one was exempt.
Link: Medal-of-Honor/Pearl-Harbor.
If Dorie Miller meets the qualifications of the others awarded the Medal of Honor, by all means he must also be awarded.
Additional photos of Dorie Miller:
Doris Miller, Mess Attendant Second Class, USN Receives the Navy Cross from Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, at an awards ceremony held on the flight deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6) at Pearl Harbor, 27 May 1942. The medal was awarded for heroism on board USS West Virginia (BB-48) during the Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941.
Lieutenant Commander Clarence W. McClusky, Jr., USN, Air Group Commander, USS Enterprise (CV-6) Receives the Distinguished Flying Cross from Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, at an awards ceremony held on the Enterprise's flight deck at Pearl Harbor, 27 May 1942. In the foreground, right, is Mess Attendant Second Class Doris Miller, who received the Navy Cross.
Doris Miller, Mess Attendant First Class, USN Speaking during a visit to the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, on 7 January 1943. He is wearing the Navy Cross medal, awarded for heroism during the Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941.
(He should have be given a far higher rank.)
Doris Miller, Mess Attendant First Class, USN Talking with three other sailors and a civilian, during his visit to the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, 7 January 1943. He is wearing the Navy Cross medal, awarded for heroism during the Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941.
In the early 1940's these Americans we fighting two wars. 
USS Miller (DE-1091; later FF-1091), 1973-199_ USS Miller, a 3963-ton Knox class escort ship, was built at Westwego, Louisiana. Commissioned in June 1973, her active service was performed with the Atlantic Fleet, including deployments to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea. In July 1975, she was reclassified as a frigate and designated FF-1091. Miller transferred to the Naval Reserve Force in January 1982, and thereafter was employed in the western Atlantic and Caribbean areas. She decommissioned in October 1991 and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 1995. She is currently being retained for eventual sale to a foreign navy.
USS Miller was named in honor of Cook Third Class Doris Miller (1919-1943), who won the Navy Cross for heroism during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941.
My first scout master was on board the USS California and came up from the engine room to fight on deck. He passed away many years ago but I still remember his iron fist handshake and gentle nature. God bless you John Feretti.
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