The Truth about Pearl Harbor Essay

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, at 7:55 AM the Japanese Empire led a surprise attack on the US Naval base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, that would leave millions of Americans in shock, and heartbroken. Before the attack, the United States kept a low profile on International affairs, and concentrated on the domestic affairs at hand. This tragic moment in American history forever remembered. It is a mournful day for the American people, although, for the Japanese Empire it was an honorable day, one they would call a

From their radio pick up they thought it was a group of 12 expected to be American B 17 Flying Fortresses going from California to the Philippines via Hawaii. (Alchin 2). At 7:15 Japan launched their second wave of 168 aircraft carriers. At 7:49 am the commander of the Japanese, Comdr. Mitsuo Fuchida, exclaimed the code word, “Tora! Tora! Tora!” Which means “Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!” meaning that they had surprised the enemy with a lightning attack. (Alchin 2). Then at 7:55 am the United States Comdr. Logan C. Ramsey orders the operators to send out a message to every ship and base; that read “AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT A DRILL!” (Alchin 2). At 8:00 am, the group of 12 American B 17 bombers were unarmed and unaware of the Japanese attack. The United States 12 planes were only able to dodge the Japanese planes because they did not get the message about the attack from the operators. America had 100 ships in Pearl Harbor but the main targets for Japan were the 8 battle

“A date which will live in infamy (Roosevelt).” There were three part to this attack, what lead to the attack, the actual attack and the aftermath. The world was at war and the United States didn’t want to get too involved until the attack happened. During the attack on Pearl Harbor the United States made the decision to join the War. The United States joining the war brought the most crucial years to follow along with the dropping of the atomic bomb. The attack on Pearl Harbor was the beginning of the a very long war that cost the lives of many people but brought a nation together.

December 7, 1941 was one of America’s darkest days. This was the day of the famous pearl harbor bombing. This attack came from the Japanese attacking the American Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack had been in the planning for many years to attack and weaken the United States Naval force. Japan wanted to do this to gain more superiority in the Atlantic and to grow their ties with European nations. In this paper I will talk about the people, the planning, the attack, and the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor bombing.

In Pearl Harbor and the Coming of the Pacific War by Akira Iriye, the author explores the events and circumstances that ended in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, an American naval base. Iriye assembles a myriad of primary documents, such as proposals and imperial conferences, as well as essays that offer different perspectives of the Pacific War. Not only is the material in Pearl Harbor and the Coming of the Pacific War informative of the situation between Japan and the United States, but it also provides a global context that allows for the readers to interpret Pearl Harbor and the events leading up to it how they may. Ultimately, both Pearl Harbor and the subsequent Pacific War between

The bombing of Pearl Harbor was a very startling attack that altered American history. It is a significant moment in American history that will not be forgotten. This confrontation happened between America and Japan for different reasons that are presented in this paper. America and Japan had weak negotiations and communications, which led to the attack on Pearl Harbor; however, America reacted on the attack effectively. Because of these circumstances, the rival led to the bombing and destruction of Pearl Harbor, America showed the world how tall and proud it can stand after a silent, sneak attack; however, America may have been knocked down, but ultimately not defeated.

It was now the sunday morning of December 7, 1941, where many military personnel had a time of leisure. Many of them either were still sleeping, in halls eating breakfast, or getting ready for church. I who had been in the mess hall having breakfast sat with a group of men, enjoying a warm bowl of oatmeal and coffee. As I took a sip of coffee I felt all my muscles awaken and gain strength ready for what this day would bring me. It was just another day of work, or that is what we all thought. The hall was full of cheerful men laughing, talking, and eating. All of a sudden we heard the sounds of planes racing through the thick air, and the crowd of people grew silent. I looked around as everyones faces grew with fear and confusion, as they ran outside to see what was going on.

On December 7, 1941, the United States became a fearful country and ready to fight for the killed. The Pearl Harbor Attack lasted 110 hellish minutes. Killing 2,343 men, 1,272 wounded and 960 left missing. Brothers, husbands, wives, and moms killed. The United States would stop at nothing to get even with Japan. The surprising Pearl Harbor Attack which started at 7:55 AM leaving many of the servicemen still in the pajamas. The United States prior to the attack had issues with Japan. Giving a reason for the United States to attack Japan. Japan was fighting with China too. The Japanese managed to destroy nearly 20 American naval vessels, 8 enormous battleships, and more than 300 airplanes. The Japanese would only lose 65 men. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was the president at the time, gave a very famous and powerful speech calling the Pearl

The attack on Pearl Harbor was planned out very well by the Japanese, due to knowing that the American ships were in port on Sunday the 7th of December 1941 and also where each ship was located. The Japanese pilots had maps, photos and models of the bay so they would be prepared and also able to distinguish their main targets. At the time of the attack the Japanese infantry advanced in two separate striking forces. The attack consisted of over three hundred Japanese planes all six of Japan's first-line aircraft carriers, Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku and also many fast battleships, torpedo bombers, destroyers, submarine and midget sub's.

On Sunday, December 7, 1941, at 7:55 a.m., hundreds of Japanese aircraft and warplanes launched from Japanese aircraft carriers located just off the West Coast of the United States. The mission was to initiate a surprise attack on the United States Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, particularly targeting the lot of American Pacific fleet located at the base, hoping to weaken the American and Allied military support. The attack was very successful for the Japanese, leaving a devastating toll on the American naval base and American lives in general. During the airborne attack, the United States lost eight battleships,

In Hawaii, the Americans had only expected attempts from Japan at sabotage, thus bringing their defenses to high alert on a land attack. This gave the Japanese an advantage as the Americans were not prepared for air raid. Furthermore, the American operators at Pearl Harbour had observed the incoming Japanese planes on the morning of December 7, however, they received no warning and mistook the squadron for a group of American bombers returning home. This confusion led to a delay of American battle preparation, which then led to a higher destruction of their fleet. Lastly, Admiral Harry Yarnell, commander of the US Asiatic Fleet, had repeatedly urged the US to have a stronger concern for Japanese aggression and “though the admiral had shown that Pearl Harbor was more than vulnerable to an attack, his warning fell on deaf ears”.

Today, December 7, 1941 has become one of the most tragic events that have taken place in history. The Japanese has attacked our naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It wasn’t only the military personnel who were affected but it was also their families including the civilians living on the island of Hawaii. “The

If a catastrophic blow could be struck against America at Pearl Harbor, then the Japanese surmised that America would pull out of the region leaving it free for the Japanese to continue their expansion in the Far East. The Americans saw Pearl Harbor as impenetrable. The naval station could only be approached by narrow waterways that were only 40 feet in depth, twisting and fully protected by anti-submarine nets. Such was the confidence of the naval command at Pearl Harbor, that the Pacific Fleet was lined up in what was known as Battleship Row. This was to prove disastrous when a fleet of planes attacked the base as the pilots would have seen rows of warships in a line and would have only needed to have flown in a straight line over these lines to deliver their deadly payload” (Trueman, “Pearl Harbor 1941”).

When war broke out in the Pacific following the bombing of the US naval fleet at Pearl Harbour in December 1941, the battle-hardened Japanese armed forces quickly took control of the much of Asia and the Pacific region. Over the next few years, American and Allied forces slowly pushed the Japanese back towards their homeland. Each island battle a war of attrition with high losses of life on both sides. A US naval blockade was put in place to stop the supply of raw materials into Japan by ship and a programme of continual firebombing of Japanese cities was implemented. By July 1945, the Allies preparations for a mainland invasion of Japan were well advanced, but they were dealing with a very fanatical enemy who were extremely loyal to their Emperor and were willing to fight to the death for him.

Do you remember the infamous moment in history called the Bombing of Pearl Harbor? Forevermore, the Bombing of Pearl Harbor will remain a conflict that will be remembered for eons, decades, centuries, or even longer. Obviously, the American and Japanese Army forces joined in the war, where it took place in the Pearl Harbor, U.S. Naval Base PH (Pearl Harbor, Island of Oahu), and the Hawaiian Territory and began on 1941 December, 5th. Frankly, Franklin Delano Roosevelt has said this famous speech toward us that was pronounced, “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.” Surprisingly, FDR made another quote to the Americans in order to not join the presence, “We must be the great arsenal of democracy. For us this is an emergency as serious as war itself. We must apply ourselves to our task with the same resolution, the same sense of urgency, the same spirit of patriotism and sacrifice as we would show were we at war.” FDR didn’t want the Americans to fight back against the Japanese, but because the Japanese were becoming more serious in bombing and started doing it on the Americans property, that caused the Americans to fight back.