Pearl Harbor Attack

Iwo Jima is an island in the Bonin chain, situated about 575 miles from Japan. It’s prominent feature is Mount Suribachi, a volcanic mountain on the southern tip of the island. Iwo Jima did not have a civilian population but was well protected by roughly 23,000 Japanese soldiers in caves, foxholes, and pillboxes (pillboxes were concrete boxes with small holes for shooting enemies). Before the land invasion, Iwo Jima endured a heavy bombardment by ships and planes, which, however, did very little to destroy the Japanese resistance.

Where was the battle fought? What was the geography like during this battle? The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor which is located on the island of O’ahu, Hawaii, which was at that time a territory of the United States. They bombed the Navy air bases at Ford Island and Kaneohe Bay, the Marine airfield at Ewa and the Army Air Corps Fields at Bellows Wheeler and Hickam. The island of O’ahu was considered important because of the good enclosed fleet anchorage at Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor is located 3,430 nautical mile southeast of Tokyo.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his war speech and asserted December 7, 1941 as, “a date which will live in infamy.” The United States’ naval bases stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii were struck by Japanese planes intentionally and promptly. The news of this attack on the Pearl Harbor shocked the world. It was devastating to the nation that were still in the throes of depression. Witnesses of this event painted a portrait of a nation stunned, but determined to rise again. The United States’ government had not disclosed a Pearl Harbor story to the public--that the U.S. had failed to act on advance information about a planned Japanese attack. Japan 's move against the United States was audacious enough to be considered no more than a slight possibility, although the potential for an attack had been widely discussed.

On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the U.S. stepped foot into the territory of the most destructive war throughout the entire course of history. On this particular day, Japan sent 361 planes launched from six aircraft carriers and bombed Pearl Harbor, a naval base located in Hawaii. The attack on Pearl Harbor was the first stage that led us into the war. Many believe that this day was considered to be among the most darkest days of American history, but was the real reason behind the attack? The reason Japan attacked Pearl Harbor is because of the embargoes we imposed on Japan, racial superiority, and the fear of the U.S.’s actions.

The island wasn’t big at all. The island of Iwo Jima was about 4.5 miles long and 2.5 miles wide. But underneath was 13,00 yards of tunnels. People hid in the underground tunnels, about 21,000 Japanese men waited within the tunnels (Peter chen). These underground fortifications also held weapons, supplies and first aid. 750 major defense installations built to shelter guns, blockhouses and a hospital. The battle was going to be difficult.

The Attack on American Bases was a series of Japanese raids on American Bases in the Pacific during 1941 and 1942. They included Attacks on Pearl Harbor, Niihau, The First, Second and Third bombings of Midway and Johnston and Palmyra. The most well known of these attacks was Pearl Harbor. As a result of this attack, America declared war on Japan. As a response Italy and Germany declared war on the United States. The Attack on American Bases is one of the most influential moments of the 20th century, marking our entrance into World War II , and should be remembered as an important moment in United States history.

There are not two more tragic dates in the last century that reside in the collective American psyche than that of December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and September 11, 2001. On these dates, two surprise attacks on American civilians and military personnel showcased U.S. vulnerability to outside forces and united a nation against those that wished to harm her. Both horrific events have many similarities and many differences in regards to who carried out the attacks, what the objectives were for the attacks, and the American response after these infamous dates occurred. Unlike September 11, 2011, where a terrorist organization utilized U.S. civilian aircraft to attack the Pentagon, New York, and intended to attack targets in the nation?s Capitol (the last plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania after the passengers attempted to retake control of their plane from the terrorists), on December 7, 1941, the nation of Japan audaciously attacked the U.S. naval fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor: On December 7, 1941, Japanese military attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This surprise attack left over two thousand people dead and destroyed a majority of the base’s planes and battleships. The United States had previously been neutral and did not have involvement in World War II, but, as a result of the attack, the United States declared war on Japan. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is an important event in history because it is what brought the United States into World War II.

One fateful morning on Sunday, December 7, 1941, Japanese attack planes first hit the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii at 7:53AM. Approximately more than 2,000 soldiers and sailors were killed, and 1,000 were injured. The Japanese destroyed 200 airplanes and 20 American naval vessels, including 8 colossal battleships in just two hours. This surprise attack caused President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress to declare war on Japan, and its allies Italy and Germany also declared war on the United States 3 days later.

Sometimes a battle is more than just a fight between two opposing forces, as it can be a turning point in history. On December 7, 1941, the United States was in a state of shock as Japan decided to launch an attack on the naval base of Pearl Harbor. It was completely unexpected as many sailors thought the attack was just a drill, but in the end, it resulted in many casualties. Japan’s decision to attack Pearl Harbor was a mistake because the United States declared war on Japan the day after the attack. The United States decision to join World War II was a major support to the Allies, as it eventually led to the defeat of the Axis powers. Thus, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a turning point in history as it brought a nation

In the months leading up to Pearl Harbor, the impending threat that the territory of Hawaii perceived from the Japanese was imminent. Being isolated from the mainland, Hawaiian government officials and the United States military knew that there would be many struggles in the event such a catastrophe occur. The decision to declare martial law in the hours following the attack on that December morning was not an easy one, but it was most definitely the right one.

The attack on Pearl Harbor changed the lives of Americans all over the country. To help make supplies for war, women had to get jobs as welders and electricians in defense plants. People used their radios to get reports on the fighting overseas(The U.S.). Most Americans first heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor through the radio. A radio station in Pittsburgh provided an eyewitness account. "We have witnessed this morning the attack of Pearl Harbor and a severe bombing of Pearl Harbor by army planes, undoubtedly Japanese" (Reinhardt). Footage of the Pearl Harbor attack was not released by the government for a year after the attack. In 1943 officials reversed course based on fears of waning civilian morale and allowed the release of films that showed the real terrors of war. Their hope was to shock Americans into strengthening their commitment to the war effort(Tuttle).

During World War 2 the U.S helped supply the allies with weapons which is possible because of the Lend Lease Act which let the, U.S, give the Allies equipment and money. The Japanese and the Axis powers knew this and showed hatred towards the U.S and were becoming aggressive towards the U.S. So the Japanese became suspicious of the U.S. Even right before the attack the Japanese were negotiating peace talks but that might of been because they were trying to distract the U.S into not becoming more suspicious of the attack. So on December 7th, 1941 General Yamamoto of the Japanese air force decided a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. This attack is still known as one of the most brilliant attacks in history and before the Japanese attacked the General knew that even if the attack was successful Japan would still lose in a long-term war.

Japan took the attack very seriously. They did not think of the attack as foolish at all. Since the U.S embargo blocked Japan from getting their crucial goods, Japan decided that a way to respond was to attack their naval base. The Japanese government believed the only way to solve its economic and demographic problems was to expand into its neighbors territory and take over its import market. To this end: Japan declared war on China and in 1937. Japan flew 3,400 miles across the Pacific ocean just to execute their attack on Pearl Harbor.

was completely on the offensive in 1944. General Douglas MacArthur stood on the beach on Leyte in the Philippines and exclaimed, “People of the Philippines, I have returned.” Although confident, their plans against taking the Philippines were going to be interrupted by a Japanese fleet: the entire Japanese fleet. The years of fighting against the U.S. put a huge dent in the size and strength of their fleet. They had to throw everything they had into this last blockade so that they couldn’t advance more than they already were. The Battle of the Leyte Gulf ended in the obliteration of what was left of Japan’s fleet. With basically no one in their way, the U.S. started to move towards the mainland. They proceeded in taking the islands of Iwo Jima, located 760 miles from Japan, and Okinawa, located 350 miles from Japan. In both instances Japan tried to fight back but was thrown back defeat. Now it was time to invade the