National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
"A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”: FDR Asks for a
Declaration of War
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, stunned virtually everyone in the United States
military. Japan’s carrier-launched bombers found Pearl Harbor totally
unprepared. President Franklin Roosevelt quickly addressed Congress to ask for
a declaration of war as illustrated in this audio excerpt. Although he never
mentioned Europe or the fact that Germany had not yet declared war on the
United States, the Pearl Harbor attack allowed him to begin the larger
intervention in the European war he had long wanted.
Since that
fateful day of 7 December 1941, America and its Allies in the Pacific
experienced defeat across almost every front at a shocking speed. The defensive
outposts in the Pacific crumbled before the Japanese juggernaut. From the White
House to the Navy and Army war planners, a haunting question arose … how and
when will we be able strike back? History would later record that the three
fateful months, beginning in April and ending in June of 1942, would see the
tide of war change in the favor of the United States and its beleaguered
allies.
The total
number of military personnel killed was 2,335, including 2,008 Navy
personnel, 109 Marines, and 218 Army. Added to this were 68 civilians, making
the total 2403 people dead. 1,177 were from the USS Arizona. The number of
wounded came to 1,143, with 710 Navy, 69 Marines, and 364 Army, as well as 103 civilians.
Total Japanese personnel losses were 55 men.
It has been 79 years since this day, but
we do not forget. The Japanese had hoped that by attacking Pearl Harbor that
this would prevent us from increasing our influence in the Pacific. They thought
wrong and in fact this led to the escalation of WWII. The day after the attack
the United States declared war on Japan. Shortly after that Germany declared
war on the United States.
It is amazing when you look at the history
books and find that the last 79 years has brought many changes around the
world. In 1941 I highly doubt anyone thought the day would come that we would
be such close allies with Japan in 2020. It was Japan that supplied our
military during the wars in Korea and Vietnam. Since the 1960’s our trade
relations with Japan has grown to include their cars, their electronics and now
Japan is the world’s second economic power.
We now consider Japan to be one of our
closest allies and partners. Japan has proven to be one of the most pro-American
nations in the world. In recent years, Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzō Abe has enjoyed
good relations with U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, with several
friendly meetings in the United States and Japan, and other international
conferences. In May 2019, President Trump became the first foreign leader to
meet the new Emperor Naruhito.
On Pearl
Harbor Day, the American flag should be flown at half-staff until sunset to
honor those who died as a result of the attack on U.S. military forces in
Hawaii. Pearl Harbor Day is not a federal holiday – government
offices, schools, and businesses do not close. Some organizations may hold
special events in memory of those killed or injured at Pearl Harbor.
John
A. Collier Sr.
VFW
Post 4534
Sr.
Vice Commander
House
Committee Chairman
407
271-9238