Attack of Pearl Harbor

On the morning of December 7, 1941, the United States Naval base outside Honolulu suffered a great tragedy when the Japanese bombed the base, claiming the lives of more than 1,500 brave crew members.
In response, Congress voted to declare war on Japan, thus thrusting the United States into World War II. Now, more than 81 years later, Pearl Harbor continues to have stories to tell. Read the stories here, and visit the historic site to learn more about the attack, the harbor's legacy, and the efforts to protect and preserve it.

What Does it Mean When a Ship is Listing?

April 19, 2019 ·  
Understanding the events of December 7, 1941 doesn’t require you to be an expert in naval or technical terminology. The memorials, museums, and other attractions provide a historical overview of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the things you need to know, such as the names and fates of the many ships that were there […]
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The Heroism of YG-17 at Pearl Harbor

April 04, 2019 ·  
Naval ship categories often have names that sound important to wartime efforts. Destroyers, aircraft carriers, battleships, minelayers – they’re all very clearly involved in some form of naval combat. Some, however, aren't so obvious. What, for example, are garbage lighters, and how could they render assistance during a devastating attack such as that which was […]
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USS Oklahoma Survivor Celebrates 101st Birthday

March 27, 2019 ·  
Each passing year brings the loss of more and more survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack, so when one of these heroes celebrates a birthday, it’s cause for celebration. One of these survivors is Colorado resident Bernie Weber, who celebrated his 101st birthday on March 21, 2019. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of Weber’s […]
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Ships of Pearl Harbor: USS Schley

March 07, 2019 ·  
USS Schley (DD-103) was laid down on October 29, 1917. The new Wickes-class destroyer was equipped like other destroyers of the time: with an arsenal that would make her a formidable presence on the high seas. USS Schley was commissioned into service on September 20, 1918. As this was the tail end of World War […]
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Ships of Pearl Harbor: USS Ramsay

February 23, 2019 ·  
USS Ramsay (DD-124) was laid down as a Wickes-class destroyer at Newport News, VA in December of 1917, and launched on June 8, 1918. She was commissioned into service in the US Navy on February 15, 1919, under the command of Cmdr H. H. Norton. Early Service of USS Ramsay Laid down and launched during the […]
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Pearl Harbor Heroes: Herbert C. Jones

February 15, 2019 ·  
As we’ve learned over time, heroes come in all ages, genders, and ethnicities. The attack on Pearl Harbor illustrates this point with the innumerable people who stepped up to help their fellow Americans on December 7, 1941. Among them was 23-year-old Herbert C. Jones, a Los Angeles native who gave his life protecting his fellow […]
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Pearl Harbor Ships Returned to Service

February 02, 2019 ·  
In the wake of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, more than 2,400 American lives were lost and the US Navy suffered a terrible blow to its Pacific Fleet. Nineteen vessels suffered damage, nearly half of which were sunk or partially sunk. While USS Arizona (BB-39), USS Oklahoma (BB-37), and USS Utah (AG-16) […]
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Ships of Pearl Harbor: USS Phoenix

January 23, 2019 ·  
Named in honor of Arizona’s capital city, the light cruiser USS Phoenix (CL-46) was launched in March of 1938 and commissioned into the US Navy on October 3. Her initial shakedown included calls at Port of Spain, Trinidad and continued to Santos, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Montevideo, Uruguay, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. In March […]
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Why Don't We Call It the "Battle of Pearl Harbor"?

January 15, 2019 ·  
Reading the history books about World War II and the War in the Pacific, you’ll find chapters on the Battle of Iwo Jima, the Battle of Okinawa, the Battle of Guadalcanal. What you won’t find, however, is a “Battle of Pearl Harbor.” It’s true that the events of December 7, 1941 launched the war that […]
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Jack Vaessen and USS Utah

January 07, 2019 ·  
The morning of December 7, 1941 on the island of Oahu was chaos. While it’s likely that most of the sailors and Marines there knew exactly what was going on, that wasn’t the case for John “Jack” Vaessen, a ship’s electrician serving aboard the former battleship USS Utah (BB-31/AG-16). Though Utah had long since been […]
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Remember Pearl Harbor Tour from Waikiki

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6-7 hours (approx.)
From $129
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The Complete Pearl Harbor Tour Experience With Lunch

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10.5 hours (approx.)
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Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour from Waikiki

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5.5 hours (approx.)
From $67
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Official Passport to Pearl Harbor

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6-8 hours (approx.)
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