Attack on Pearl Harbor

Attack on Pearl Harbor

"December 17, 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."

- Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt

At 7:53 AM, the aerial onslaught began with the second wave perpetuated at 8:55. A radiogram was sent from the Commander in Chief

of the Pacific Fleet: "Airraid on Pearl Harbor. This is no drill." Within two hours, the carnage had concluded leaving 2,403 people dead in the smoldering ruins. Almost two hundred planes and eight battleships also laid crippled in the channel.

As horrific as the crime scene was, many people still ponder if it was actually a complete surprise. Evidence supports the fact that Roosevelt had been warned several times about Japan's idea to attack the harbor. Many believe that he lured them in by anchoring most of the Pacific Fleet there. Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt was not a moral man, and he wanted to go to war. In addition, most of the ships left in Hawaii were old and outdated. Japan did us a favor by destroying our recycled garbage.

Now this is where the plot thickens. Roosevelt did not particularly want to enter war with Japan; he wanted to fight with Germany. However, in his campaign promises he pledged not to send our soldiers overseas unless attacked. In order for Hitler to declare war on the United States, we had to appear beatable. Upon the destruction of our Pacific Fleet we appeared just that. We declared war on Japan and Germany declared war on us.

Roosevelt's plan ran like clockwork. American's were irate about the terror in the tropics, and so Roosevelt got his war. In his speech Franklin said, "No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people and their righteous might will win through to absolute victory." Our absolute victory came with Truman's thumbs up to drop the atomic bomb.

Currently, some of the ships still lay visible along the Hawaiian coast. Only now, the moss and tree trunks tranquil green replaces the charcoal covered soot that many still tearfully remember. Pearl Harbor has come to be a national memorial. Emotions still run high, as patriotic citizens walk amongst the battleground. Separate tours are