Pearl Harbor Day

As most are aware, on this date in 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise military strike against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Two waves of Japanese planes (a total of 353) launched from six aircraft carriers to carry out the early morning attack.[

Four U.S. Navy battleships were sunk (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and all of the four other battleships present were damaged. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship[8] and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed, 2,402 personnel were killed[9] and 1,282 were wounded. The power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light, with 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.

Today is a day to remember this tragic event. May the sailors and soldiers who died rest in peace.