The USS Arizona Memorial is fully open following the completion of preservation work

Leaders of World War II

The commanders, statesmen, and strategists who decided the Pacific War.
World War II in the Pacific was a war of doctrine as much as firepower — fought between leadership cultures that saw the world in fundamentally different terms. This collection profiles the men whose decisions shaped December 7th and everything that followed. On the Japanese side: Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the architect of the Pearl Harbor strike who privately doubted Japan could win a long war and reportedly warned his superiors that he could "run wild" for six months but no longer; Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, the man who ordered the attack; and Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, who commanded the strike force at sea.

On the Allied side: President Franklin Roosevelt, whose "day which will live in infamy" address pulled a divided isolationist nation into a global war within twenty-four hours of the attack; Admiral Chester Nimitz, who took command of a smoking Pacific Fleet on December 31st, 1941 and rebuilt it into the force that won at Midway six months later; General Douglas MacArthur, whose Philippines defense and later "I shall return" pledge defined Allied strategy in the southwest Pacific; and Winston Churchill, whose first thought on hearing the news was reportedly relief that America had finally entered the fight.

To stand where their strategies played out, tour the Battleship Missouri Memorial — the deck where Japanese leaders signed the formal surrender on September 2, 1945. The Passport to Pearl Harbor ticket bundles entry across all of the historic sites these leaders shaped.

Their decisions still echo in modern military doctrine.

FDR's Day of Infamy

July 04, 2016 ·  
24 hours with the President As far as President Franklin D. Roosevelt knew when he woke up on December 7, 1941, the negotiations between the United States and the Empire of Japan still held a hope of averting war between the nations. The talks were beginning to languish, but they had not yet fallen through—or […]
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Admiral Kimmel, Husband E.

September 02, 2013 · Randy Miller
In February of 1941, Admiral Husband E. Kimmel became the commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Fleet. The Pacific Fleet had been moved to Pearl Harbor in 1940. Admiral Kimmel, shortly after being placed in this command expressed his concern about a surprise attack. He did not, however, make any apparent changes to prepare for such […]
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Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

August 18, 2013 · Randy Miller
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was the key strategist of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Although he had serious reservations about a war with the United States, as Admiral he had a responsibility.  The air raid of Pearl Harbor was his idea. The Pearl Harbor attack was considered tactically brilliant, while at the same time strategically foolish. The strategy […]
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Chuichi Nagumo, Vice Admiral IJN

August 18, 2013 · Randy Miller
Despite the fact that he was opposed to the attack on Pearl harbor, Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo was in command of the carrier-centered Mobile Force (Kido Butai). The task force was made up of 6 carriers, 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, and 9 destroyers. His forces were split into three carrier commands: Nagumo: carriers Akagi and […]
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Mitsuo Fuchida, Japanese Commander at Pearl Harbor

March 18, 2013 · Randy Miller
Commander Mitsuo Fuchida led the first wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was the pilot who famously sent the signal Tora, Tora, Tora, the code words that they had achieved complete surprise. As a child during the victory over Russia, Commander Mitsuo Fuchida developed strong aspirations to be in the Japanese Navy. He entered the […]
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Emperor Hirohito

September 18, 2012 · Randy Miller
On Christmas Day 1926 Prince Hirohito became Emperor of Japan. He was 25 years old and reigned as the 124th Emperor. Hirohito chose the name "Showa", meaning "enlightened peace", to be remembered by. He was considered a pacifist, however, at the same time he encouraged the role of the Japanese military. In an important meeting […]
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