Pearl Harbor

"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."

With these words, President Franklin D. Roosevelt began his response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. Relations with Japan had been tense over U.S. trade embargoes on fuel, oil and scrap metal placed in an attempt to halt Japanese aggression in China. The U.S. government had been in negotiations with the Japanese, but a decoded message proved that Japan intended to break off the talks on December 7th. A warning of the possibility of war with Japan was sent to naval command at Pearl Harbor, but was not received until after the attack.

The first sign of the enemy was registered at 3:42 a.m. on the morning of the attack by the minesweeper Condor. While patrolling a short distance outside the harbor entrance the ship sighted a submarine periscope. The Condor signaled the U.S.S. Ward,and at 6:45 a.m. the Ward's crew, including many boys from St. Paul, fired upon the Japanese mini-sub - the first American shots of the war. The action was reported, but was believed to have been a false sighting and the report was held for verification.

Although the first Japanese planes were seen on radar nearly an hour before the air strike began, the sighting was believed to be a group of American B-17 bombers flying in from California. Because no warning was issued, the attack came as a surprise, particularly to military personnel and civilians living on the island. The first wave began at 7:55 a.m. with a raid on Wheeler Air Field and Hickam Field, which destroyed most of the U.S. planes on the ground. Torpedoes hit and destroyed several U.S. ships moored in Battleship Row on Ford Island, including the U.S.S. Oklahoma, the Arizona, the Nevada, the Utah, and the California.

The second wave of the raid began at 8:54 a.m. with an attack on the navy yard dry dock, resulting in the loss of more battleships and destroyers. By 10:00 a.m. the air attack had ended. The Japanese had hoped to destroy aircraft carriers, but none were in the harbor on December 7th. The Japanese did not know the whereabouts of the carriers and, satisfied with the success of the raid, did not send the third wave of planes to the harbor.

The death toll of military personnel and civilians at Pearl Harbor totaled 2,403 with another 1,178 wounded. A total of 21 ships were destroyed or damaged. 188 planes were lost and 139 were damaged. Of the ships sunk, all but three were repaired and returned to service.

Americans across the country reacted to the news of Pearl Harbor with shock and disbelief. Many had no idea where Pearl Harbor was located. None would forget where they were on December 7th.

President Roosevelt concluded his speech on December 8th with a declaration of war on Japan:

"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."

America was at war.

Citations:

• Our Documents: Declaration of War. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, 2009.
• Remembering Pearl Harbor. National Geographic, 2001.
• USN Ships: USS Ward (Destroyer # 139, later DD-139 and APD-16), 1918-1944. Naval Historical Center, 2000-2003.
• Artwork: U.S.S. Ward.
• Photo: 4"/50 gun crew on USS Ward, after Pearl Harbor attack.
• Photo: Japanese aerial photo of Pearl Harbor's "Battleship Row" soon after USS Arizona exploded.
• Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941, Related Resources. Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center, 2000-2001.