On December 7, 1941, the United States was attacked on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii by the Japanese. It was the most devastating event in the history of the United States armed forces. A total of 2400 Americans were killed and a total of 1200 Americans were wounded. There was a heavy toll on the US navy and US air force. 8 battleships, 3cruisers, 3 destroyers, and 200 airplanes were destroyed. A war message to Congress President Roosevelt's had said “ Yesterday, December 7 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 or Japan”.
Here are two testimonies from two individuals that were present during the attack. George Delong, survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, was trapped in the Oklahoma. A torpedo had struck the Oklahoma. It was a nightmare to see my comrades die in front of me. “A mate yelled: Man your battle stations and set water tight condition!” After more explosions, the ship leaned and went over. I could see water rushing in through the air vents. There were men praying, crying, and begging for survival. Seven shipmates and I had used a mattress to plug the vent. We were lucky to have survived.
Richard Fiske, a master sergeant of the US Air force, had witnessed the horrors of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was on the quarter deck when suddenly he heard explosion on 7:55. He saw the Japanese planes coming in and launching their torpedo towards his ship. “At the battle station, I saw my captain lying dead.”
The attack on Pearl Harbor had disrupted the peace in the United States. It was the first time US was attacked by a foreign country since the War of 1812. The conflicts of the European countries are coming towards us and it is inevitable. We should act now before this horror happens again. We cannot just be like sitting ducks and let the other countries annihilate us. The time to act is now.
