On Monday, December 8, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of the United States Congress to discuss the events that unfolded at Pearl Harbor the previous day. His address, known as the “Day of Infamy" speech, was brilliant and passionate, and would go down as one of the most important speeches ever made by an American president.

The speech was so effective that Roosevelt was able to secure a near-unanimous vote to go to war with Japan. But is it really a surprise that a speech intended to reach that outcome succeeded so well, especially since the attack was still so fresh the nation's consciousness? Clearly, Roosevelt’s words were carefully chosen to guarantee the declaration of war, even though it was likely that Congress would have voted in favor of it anyway.

Breaking Down Roosevelt’s Day of Infamy Speech

Ever since it was delivered, scholars of Pearl Harbor history have been examining the speech from every angle to explain its profound impact. Let's have a look at a few of its distinctive features.

"Day" vs. "Date"

December 1941 calendar

December 7, 1941 became a date which would live in infamy.

The speech starts with a very calculated choice of words that’s so subtle that it’s easy to miss. During his speech, Roosevelt called December 7, 1941 a “date which will live in infamy.”

This is sometimes misquoted as a “day" that would live in infamy, but there is a very clear distinction between those two words. The day was a Sunday. Sundays come around once a week and they can't all be infamous. The date, however, was December 7, 1941, and that would happen only once. Roosevelt was saying that because of the horrific events that had occurred the day before, the date would be seared in everyone's memory.

Speaking Passively in a Time of Action

Every writer knows that using the active voice is almost always preferred, yet in many parts of the speech, Roosevelt employed the passive voice. Given what we know of his eloquence, this was clearly a deliberate choice, and was intended to further strengthen his appeal to declare war.

He reminded his listeners in Congress and across the nation that the United States at peace when it was “suddenly and deliberately attacked.” Later, he asks Congress to declare that since the attack, a state of war "has existed" between the United States and Japan.

The Use of "Props"

Edith Wilson accompanied President Roosevelt into the chamber to deliver his Day of Infamy speech

Edith Wilson accompanied President Roosevelt into the chamber to deliver his Day of Infamy speech

It wasn’t just words that helped strengthen Roosevelt’s call for a declaration of war. He very cleverly used some powerful visuals to subconsciously influence those present that day.

When the President entered the chambers at noon on December 8, he didn’t do so alone. He was accompanied by Edith Wilson, widow of Woodrow Wilson. The presence of the former first lady was a calculated move by Roosevelt. Twenty-four years earlier, President Wilson had stood in front of Congress and requested a declaration of war.

He was also joined by Lt. Col. James Roosevelt, his son, dressed in full uniform. The Marine sat behind his father at the podium, providing a visual reminder of America's readiness to fight back.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "Day of Infamy Speech" is one of the most famous speeches by a US president. It is second only to President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

Many people know the beginning,

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

This is much like knowing "Four scores and seven years ago, our forefathers . . . ". It is powerful. What comes next is also important.

Information Available

As we have mentioned elsewhere on this site, it is important to look at the speech from the perspective of the time. Information was not as immediately or widely available. It was also not entirely accurate.

On Sunday evening, it was reported in Washington DC that the Japanese sent in a third wave of attack. They reported that the Philippines had not been bombed.  There was so little hard information that the public was coming to their own conclusions.

The American people were confused. FDR's Day of infamy speech had to relieve confusion and motivate Americans.

 

It is important to listen to the intonation in President Roosevelt's voice during the Day of Infamy Speech. You can play the video below. As FDR continues you can begin to hear his indignation as he begins talking about 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.”

He outlines the deception by the Japanese Government:

"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 of form 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 had deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace."

FDR mentioned the damage only briefly, presumably because information was still being gathered.

"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."

An important part of the speech was the list of the targets during the same period of time that Pearl Harbor Was attacked.

"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."

The next statement in the speech was very accurate. Americans had opinions about the strength of the Japanese Navy and of the US Armed forces. Opinions mostly assumed a major naval superiority over Japan.

"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."

FDR knew that it is important to instill some fear in order to declare war. There must be a threat and we must act in defense.

"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."

The Day of Infamy Speech Was Inspiring

FDR knew that simply explaining the facts would make Americans angry, but he wanted to inspire them.

“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

FDR's Day of Infamy Speech concluded with a request for a declaration of War.  Japan had officially declared war on the United States on December 7th.

"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."

Roosevelt's speech led to a nearly unanimous vote for war in congress (only 1 voted no), and inspired the nation.

The Written Day of Infamy Speech

We love this version of the speech with notes. You can see the improvements that FDR made to make the speech more inspiring. Day of Infamy Speech Notes

The Day of Infamy Speech Video

Most of the War in the Pacific following the attack on Pearl Harbor was fought with bombs, artillery shells, and bullets. The Japanese, however, had an additional method of attacking. In circumstances when it was deemed more important to inflict damage on the enemy than return home safely, they turned to the act of self-sacrifice known as kamikaze.

Instances of kamikaze pilots were seen as early as the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Though the suicide pilots of Japan were only organized into specific units later in the war, the concept of the kamikaze attack was a reflection of the Japanese idea that it was better to be killed in battle than captured.

 

The Origins of Kamikaze

Kamikaze strike on USS Saratoga (CV-3), 21 February 1945

Kamikaze strike on USS Saratoga (CV-3), 21 February 1945

The idea of kamikaze grew in visibility during the Second World War, but it had been around for centuries before that. As early as the 13th century, the word kamikaze was used to refer to the typhoons that halted Mongolian invasion fleets. Roughly translated, it means “divine wind,” and originated from makurakotoba, figures of speech in Japanese poetry.

Before being used to describe suicide pilots of World War II, Kamikaze was the name of a Japanese monoplane that made a record-setting flight from Tokyo to London in 1937. This plane was the prototype for the Mitsubishi Ki-15 Babs, a reconnaissance plane used during the Second Sino-Japanese war.

 

 

Japan’s Kamikaze Pilots

Before taking off for the attack on Pearl Harbor, First Lieutenant Fusata Iida reportedly told his men that if his plane were to become damaged, he would direct it into a “worthy enemy target.” During the attack, after being struck by American anti-aircraft rounds, Iida steered his craft toward Naval Air Station Kaneohe and crashed it.

This may be the first recorded kamikaze attack, though it was far from the last. Initially, Japanese pilots were simply too proud to let themselves be captured by the Allied forces. When their options were land in enemy territory and risk imprisonment or sacrifice themselves and maybe take down Allied forces, the latter was chosen.

Kamikaze recruits in 1944

Kamikaze recruits in 1944

After the Battle of Midway, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service suffered immense damage that made it impossible to function at full capacity. Well-trained crews were becoming scarce but there was still a war to be fought. As Japan continued to lose ground in the Pacific and was forced to turn to inexperienced pilots flying obsolete aircraft, drastic measures were implemented.

It’s believed that Captain Motoharu Okamura, who oversaw the Tateyama Base in Tokyo, was the first officer to consider organizing pilots into Tokubetsu Kōgekitai, or special attack units. On June 15, 1944, Okamura and his superiors started looking into the potential effectiveness of suicide pilots.

In September of 1944, pilots of the 31st Fighter Squadron on Negros Island were among the first to give their lives in premeditated suicide attacks, although it seems they didn't inflict any damage on Allied forces. In October, USS Reno (CL-96) was the target for suicide bombers.

 

Why the Sacrifice?

Kamikaze Memorial at Yasukuni Shrine

Kamikaze Memorial at Yasukuni Shrine

The reasons for willingly sacrificing one's life for a cause vary, but the overriding motivation for many of Japan’s kamikaze pilots was the belief that it idea was pushed on young men through newspaper propaganda, advertisements, and books promoting the idea that suicide pilots would be enshrined at the Yasukuni Shrine, where military casualties were honored as gods.

Many scholars believe that some kamikaze pilots didn’t willingly offer up their lives. Some sources believe that volunteers weren’t as abundant as the authorities made it seem, and that many pilots were coerced into going on the suicide missions. Others point toward peer pressure.

 

The Final Mission

Kamikaze plane just before hitting USS Missouri (BB-63)

A Japanese Zero moments before hitting USS Missouri (BB-63)

Before setting off, the specially-trained pilots would participate in a ceremony in which they shared ceremonial cups of sake (or water) known as mizu no sakazuki.

Kamikaze pilots were given military decorations and flew with prayers from their families. Once they took off, the planes were surrounded by fleet escorts that ensured the suicide craft made it to their target.

It's believed that almost 4,000 Japanese pilots died in suicide attacks that killed over 7,000 Allied troops.

USS Missouri (BB-63), now a museum ship at Pearl Harbor, suffered a kamikaze strike on April 11, 1945. A dent made by the impact of the Zero plane is still visible on the ship's hull.

On December 7th, the United States will once again commemorate the anniversary of the tragic attack on the Pearl Harbor naval base. Seventy-six years ago, the nation experienced a terrifying day when a fleet of Japanese fighters and bombers flew into Oahu airspace. The attack that followed left over 2,400 American servicemen and civilians dead. The anniversary of the attack is used to memorialize those lost during the assault and recognize the survivors who went on to fight in the war that ensued.

Before Pearl Harbor was attacked, a series of events unfolded in the months prior to the "date that [would] live in infamy," warnings and movements from across the Pacific that would ultimately culminate in the devastating assault. Here are some of the lesser known milestones on the road to Pearl Harbor.

The Pearl Harbor Timeline

As the year 1941 began, tensions between the United States and Japan were on the rise. The Japanese felt that US meddling in its affairs in the Pacific and Indochina was becoming unbearable, and the proud Empire began preparing to do what it had to in order to maintain its supremacy.

January

In January of 1941, 12 months before the attack, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto began discussions with leading Japanese officers about an attack on Pearl Harbor. At this point, an attack was simply a concept that the admiral would eventually flesh out into a deadly plan of action.

January 27, 1941: It didn’t take long for the United States to receive word of a possible attack on Pearl Harbor. The American Ambassador to Japan, Joseph Grew, wired Washington on this day to warn of the possible attack. Unfortunately, Grew's warning falls on deaf ears as American officials believed Manila, in the US-controlled Philippines, would be the primary target.

February

Adm. Husband E. Kimmel

Admiral Husband E. Kimmel is given command of the Pacific Fleet, a position he would end up not holding for long. Shortly after taking command, Kimmel requested better defense of the Hawaiian Islands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April

American cryptographers use a project known as "Magic" to decipher Japanese diplomatic messages encoded using their Purple machine. The information uncovered isn’t all shared with the commanders with the greatest need to know, including the newly-appointed Kimmel.

May

Admiral Naokuni Nomura discovers that the United States is privy to Japanese intelligence. Despite his warning, higher command refuses to believe that the code was broken and opts to keep it the same.

July

Road to Pearl Harbor

Mock-up used in planning the Pearl Harbor attack

Admiral Yamamoto puts the final touches on his plan to attack. Japan is now firmly on the road to Pearl Harbor. He starts to train his forces to prep them for the lengthy journey and the delicate nature of the surprise attack.

 

 

 

 

September

Despite deciphering a message from Japanese naval intelligence to Japan’s consul general in Honolulu requesting a grid of the Pearl Harbor naval base, American intelligence fails to share the message with Kimmel. The transmission asked for information regarding the placement of each ship within the harbor.

November

A special envoy is sent to Washington by the Japanese to try and come to a diplomatic resolution. None is ultimately found.

November 16, 1941: Japanese submarines depart for the long journey across the Pacific. They become the first foreign vessels to enter the waters off the coast of Oahu.

November 26, 1941: The 1st Air Fleet, known as Kido Butai or Mobile Force, departs Japan and begins its trek on the road to Pearl Harbor

November 27, 1941: Kimmel and General Walter Short receive a “war warning” from Washington that suggests a Japanese attack may be imminent. It doesn’t pinpoint Pearl Harbor, but warns that the target would be an American asset in the Pacific.

December

Pearl Harbor seen from a Japanese attack plane

December 6 and December 7, 1941: The Japanese striking force reaches its destination. American intelligence decodes a message that pegs Sunday, December 7th as a deadline for an action. Four hours before the attack, the message is delivered to Washington but isn’t forwarded to Pearl Harbor until after the attack begins.

December 8, 1941: In shock from the deadly attack, the United States struggles to find a response. In Congress, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers an impassioned speech that leads to a nearly unanimous vote to declare war on Japan.

You’ve made all the arrangements for a journey back in time at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, and now's the tie to ensure you have some essential knowledge about the December 7th, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The exhibits, museums, and memorials do a great job of detailing the events of that long-ago morning, but it’s good to show up with enough background information to make your visit meaningful. Here are some of the essentials:

There Was No Warning

It may seem shocking, especially in this day of instantaneous digital information, but the men stationed at Pearl Harbor received absolutely no warning of the impending attack. The first indication they had that something was wrong was the sound of bombs exploding in the harbor.

The Targets of the Attack

B-17 destroyed at Hickam Airfield

Pearl Harbor wasn’t the only spot attacked on December 7th. Oahu airbases suffered immense damage as Japanese fighters sought to keep American aircraft grounded. Hickam Field, Wheeler Field, and Ford Island were among the bases struck beyond Pearl Harbor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Relatively Brief Attack

The two Japanese attack waves took approximately 110 minutes to complete. The stationary targets allowed for maximum damage and effectiveness.

A Devastating Death Toll

Arizona Memorial Guard

Arizona Memorial Guard

Pearl Harbor has gone down in history as one of the worst attacks on American soil. By the time the smoke cleared, a total of 2,335 US servicemen and 68 civilians were dead. On top of that, another 1,178 were wounded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The USS Arizona

You may think that you’ll just be learning about Pearl Harbor through artifacts, newspaper articles, and documentary footage, but Pearl Harbor is also still home to the USS Arizona. The most tragic of stories to come from the attack, the Arizona suffered the greatest loss of life, nearly half of the total number of Americans killed during the attack.

The mighty battleship still sits where she sank to the bottom of the harbor. To honor her and the men lost when her forward  magazine exploded, a memorial was built directly above.

The Black Tears of the Arizona

The Black Tears of the Arizona

Don’t be surprised to see small pools of oil rising from the wreckage of the Arizona. Known as the tears the battleship still weeps for her lost men, the oil has been dripping into the harbor since she sank over 75 years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Day After

On December 8th, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the nation, calling on Congress to declare war on Japan. The so-called "Infamy" speech was heard on millions of radios all across the United States.

Any event that looms as large in the timeline of American history as the attack on Pearl Harbor is bound to leave a number of names and details that define it. From the types of armament used by Japan’s assaulting forces to the American ships targeted and damaged during the attack, there is a lot to remember when it comes to the events of December 7th, 1941.

The more you learn about the devastating attack, the more likely it is that you’ll come across certain names—on both sides of the attack—again and again. Here are some that you’ll definitely hear about as you dig deeper into the history of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

President of the United States in December of 1941, Roosevelt has sometimes been accused of having advance knowledge about the attack on Pearl Harbor, although no conclusive evidence has surfaced to support such a theory. Within 24 hours of the attack, Roosevelt delivered his “Infamy” speech, pleading with the US Congress to approve a declaration of war with Japan.

 

Husband E. Kimmel

Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet at the time of the attack, Admiral Kimmel wound up being the scapegoat when it came to assigning blame for the many missteps that occurred in the days leading up to the Japanese assault. Many blamed him for not appropriately preparing Pearl Harbor for the assault, and claimed his negligence led to the tragedy. Decades later, the US Senate finally passed a resolution clearing Kimmel of any wrongdoing.

Doris Miller

Doris Miller

Admiral Chester W Nimitz presents the Navy Cross to Petty Officer Doris Miller

Serving aboard the USS West Virginia, Miller ended up becoming a hero to many during the attack. He was first called upon to help move the mortally wounded captain and then, despite being a Messman with no experience with the available weaponry, took up arms against the incoming bombers. When the attack slowed down, Miller assisted in moving injured soldiers and was recognized for saving lives that otherwise would have been lost. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions that day, making him the first African-American recipient of the medal.

 

Hirohito

Emperor of Japan at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. Hirohito was responsible for approving the attack on Pearl Harbor and though he initially had hesitation, he eventually gave the order to commence the attack in early December, 1941.

Mitsuo Fuchida

Leader of the Pearl Harbor Striking Force, Fuchida was the source of the infamous phrase “Tora! Tora! Tora!” when he realized the fleet had succeeded in reaching their target without being detected. He later moved to the United States and became a Christian evangelist.

Shigenori Nishikaichi

Wreckage of Nishikaichi's Zero BII 120 on Niihau

During the Pearl Harbor attack, fighter pilot Nishikaichi crash-landed his Zero BII 120on the Hawaiian island of Ni’ihau. The so-called Niihau Incident resulted after Nishikaichi was taken prisoner and manipulated a local Japanese-Hawaiian family to help him escape. The incident ended with the deaths of the pilot and one of the men who aided him. Fragments from Nishikaichi’s plane are on display at the Pacific Aviation Museum, one of the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites on Ford Island.

On December 7th, 1941, the United States suffered one of the worst attacks from a foreign power that the nation had ever known. Fires erupted throughout the naval base as bombs struck the battleships and other warships of Pearl Harbor. Smoke billowed high, making the effects of the attack visible even to those further inland on the island of Oahu. The attack launched the nation into a state of fear, panic, and determination, and most people came to the conclusion that war was inevitable.

FDR's speech to congress

President Roosevelt asks Congress for Declaration of War with Japan

On December 8th, 1941, only 24 hours after the attack, war was indeed declared against Japan. It’s easy to understand how the average American adult handled news of war, some with eager anticipation of revenge for the loss of 2,403 American lives, others with an overwhelming fear that the war wouldn’t end without terrible loss of life.

But adults weren’t the only ones forced to live through the tragic events of Pearl Harbor and the immediate and terrifying aftermath. Though it’s tempting to assume that children were more or less unaffected by the events that unfolded on that quiet Sunday morning, Dorinda Makanaonalani Nicholson helps to put that assumption to rest with her book Pearl Harbor Child: A Child’s View of Pearl Harbor from Attack to Peace.

A Child's View

 

Nicholson was among the many who stood in their front yards and witnessed the terror unfolding at the naval base. What started as another uneventful Sunday morning for the six-year-old girl living in Pearl City suddenly erupted into a terrifying ordeal as the sounds of war echoed in the distance.

In Pearl Harbor Child, Nicholson chronicles her memories of that morning and describes how, even as a child, the concept of war wasn’t entirely foreign to her. She recalls bullets that hit her home, one of which she holds onto today, a relic from the attack retrieved by her father. The book goes on to discuss the events after the attack, and what it was like living in post-Pearl Harbor Hawaii.

To convey just how a child would have observed what was happening around her, Nicholson presents her story from the point of view of her six-year-old self. Originally published by the Arizona Memorial Museum Association, and republished by Woodson House Publishing for the 60th anniversary of the attack, the book may be written in the voice of a child, but it’s just as powerful, insightful, and informative as any other Pearl Harbor survivor account. In fact, Pearl Harbor Child gives a viewpoint not covered in history books or in the many, many stories told about that tragic event.

Nicholson’s story is a fascinating one that puts a new spin on the Pearl Harbor attack while also reminding us that children can also be greatly affected by the events that unfold around them.

Though World War II was fought all around the globe—from the tiniest of islands to the most expansive of countries—there were certain locations that proved to be more significant than others. If you want to take a tour of all of the most crucial sites of World War II, it’s going to be a hefty stretch of travel. But if we narrow your journey to the most iconic locations of the Pacific Theater, it becomes a more manageable excursion.

The following places around the Pacific proved to be turning points through the duration of the war in the Pacific.

Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii

Roosevelt Speech in Stone

A date which will live in infamy

The final catalyst for the United States joining World War II. On December 7th, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy flew into Pearl Harbor and launched a devastating assault on the American naval base and other military installations on Oahu. Over the course of two hours, Pearl Harbor underwent an intense bombardment that resulted in serious damage to most of the vessels present—including the total destruction of two battleships—and left over 2,400 Americans dead.

The attack on Pearl Harbor opened the Pacific Theater of World War II and represented the start of armed American conflict with Japan.

Midway Atoll, North Pacific

The first major turning point of World War II in the Pacific. The Japanese forces attempted to surprise the US base at Midway just as they had at Pearl Harbor. This time, unlike at Pearl Harbor, American cryptanalysts broke Japan’s communication code and discovered its plan to attack Midway. In a preemptive maneuver, the US delivered a crushing blow to Japan’s fleet, destroying many of its assets including four of the six aircraft carriers that participated in the Pearl Harbor attack just six months earlier.

After Midway, Japan was never able to recover its losses, mostly due to the lack of necessary resources.

Iwo Jima, Japan

US Marines landing on Iwo Jima

The setting for the most iconic photograph from the Pacific Theater, the Battle for Iwo Jima took place from February 19th to March 26th, 1945, and resulted in Japan’s forces being dislodged from the island. Against a much stronger American force, approximately 18,000 Japanese troops (out of 21,000) were killed, while nearly 20,000 of the 110,000 American servicemen were wounded and almost 7,000 were killed.

Despite a clear Allied victory on Iwo Jima, the strategic value of the invasion in light of its extremely bloody cost has long been disputed.

Okinawa, Japan

One of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific Theater, the Battle of Okinawa was fought so the United States could establish bases for a planned invasion of the Japanese main islands. The 82-day battle through the spring of 1945 resulted in the deaths of over 20,000 Americans and over 100,000 Japanese troops. It’s estimated that approximately 100,000 civilians were killed during the brutal campaign on Okinawa.

Due to the incredibly high death toll of Okinawa, the United States determined that continued battle with the Japanese would result in an immense number of further casualties. To curb these additional losses, the decision was made to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki later that summer.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor remains one of the most important events in American history. The horrific loss of life and the sinking of vital American ships on the morning of December 7, 1941 drew the United States into World War II and eventually made it the world power it is today. Once firmly committed to a policy of isolationism, the attack on Pearl Harbor immediately changed that. Being such a turning point in American history, it’s important to have a general understanding of what happened that quiet Sunday morning over 75 years ago.

Recognizing the importance of remembering this crucial moment, we’ve put together a list of key people and terms  that everyone should know about the Pearl Harbor attack.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Thirty-second President of the United States, Roosevelt gave an impassioned speech on December 8th, 1941, imploring Congress to approve the motion declaring war against Japan. Roosevelt had close ties to Winston Churchill, Prime Minster of Great Britain, and was a proponent of slowing down Japan’s expansion throughout the Pacific.

 

 

 

 

 

Husband E. Kimmel

Adm. Husband E. Kimmel

Admiral in the US Navy and Commander of the Pacific Fleet at the time of the attack, Kimmel was later accused of failing to protect Pearl Harbor from the Japanese strike force. Many believe Kimmel was a scapegoat, lacking vital information that would have led to better preparation for the attack.

 

 

 

 

Isoroku Yamamoto

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto

Japanese admiral, Yamamoto was responsible for planning the attack on Pearl Harbor. Yamamoto’s views often contrasted with those of other Japanese officials, and he is believed to have questioned whether the attack on Pearl Harbor was even the best course of action. Yamamoto was killed in a retaliatory attack when American Lockheed P-38 Lightning shot down his Mitsubishi G4M bomber.

 

 

 

 

 

Kido Butai

The Imperial Japanese Navy's 1st Air Fleet, known as Kido Butai, or Mobile Force, was the large attack force sent by the Japanese to Pearl Harbor. At the time, the Kido Butai was the largest grouping of aircraft carriers in the world. The ships remained 230 miles away from Oahu while two waves of  aircraft carried out the assault.

United States Pacific Fleet

The grouping of ships based at Pearl Harbor, including nine battleships and three aircraft carriers. On the morning of the Japanese attack, all three carriers and one of the battleships were absent. In addition to these capital ships, there were dozens of other vessels of varying types and around 100 aircraft in the US Pacific Fleet.

Pearl Harbor

A United States naval base on the southern coast of Oahu. Pearl Harbor was the target of the December 7th, 1941 Japanese assault. Known today as Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, it is still in active use.

 

USS Arizona

Memorial above the wreckage of the USS Arizona

The greatest single casualty of the Pearl Harbor attack, the USS Arizona suffered the loss of 1,177 crewmen, most of whose remains were never retrieved from the wreckage. Today, the Arizona lies just below the surface of the harbor and is the focal point of the USS Arizona Memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

USS Oklahoma

USS Oklahoma Memorial

USS Oklahoma Memorial

The other US battleship destroyed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma lost 429 crewmen. Most of the fallen sailors have still not been definitively identified, and are buried in mass graves at the National Cemetery of the Pacific. The Department of Defense and Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency launched a program in 2015 to finally identify the lost sailors of the Oklahoma for proper burial with military honors.

On December 7th, 1941, the United States suffered one of its darkest days. Angered by trade sanctions enforced by the US, Japan launched a strike against the naval base at Pearl Harbor, located on the island of Oahu. During the tragic events that shattered a quiet Sunday morning, over 2,400 American men and women perished and the US Pacific Fleet suffered the total destruction of two battleships and varying degrees of damage to six more.

The effects of the Pearl Harbor attack were felt immediately as word spread across the Pacific to the United States mainland. Government officials were the first to learn of the attack, and details were soon disseminated to the American public. Fear and panic gripped the country, especially coastal regions in Oregon, Washington, and California.

Delivering Day fo Infamy Speech

President Roosevelt addressing Congress December 8, 1941

The feeling of a need to avenge the attack struck many Americans. On December 8th, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress, his speech broadcast across the nation. Calling for a vote from congress to declare war with the Japanese, Roosevelt proclaimed that December 7th, 1941 would be a date that would live in infamy.

Within hours of Roosevelt’s address, Congress came back with a near-unanimous vote, with only one member voting against going to war. When Montana’s Representative Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to hold national office in America, cast her vote against taking the fight to Japan, she took a brave stance to stick to her beliefs and what she thought to be true, something she had also done during World War I.

Rather than voice her suspicions about conspiracies and US government involvement in the Pearl Harbor attack, when it came time to vote, Rankin stood up and simply declared that, “As a woman, I can’t go to war and I refuse to send anyone else.” It seemed to be a safer avenue to take, but it wasn’t without repercussions. The press quickly caught wind of what many saw as a declaration of support for America’s enemies.

Immediately following the vote, Representative Rankin received death threats, and required a police escort to return home. The press dragged her name through the mud, vilifying her for voting in a way that made her seem less patriotic, especially only 24 hours after the attack.

Jeannette Rankin

Jeannette Rankin in 1973

Regardless of what people said and wrote about her, Jeannette Rankin refused to stray from her initial vote. Doing so probably cost her her career. Before the next election, she decided not to run, knowing she would most likely be easily defeated. Right up to her death at 92 years old, she remained an advocate for pacifism, speaking out against the Vietnam conflict near the end of her long life.

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