On Saturday, Dec. 6, Japan, “Sends the first segments of a 14-part message to its embassy in Washington, ordering them to present their final demands to the United States at 1 p.m. Washington time, tomorrow.”
That afternoon, a Japanese strike force, which departed the Kuril Islands 12 days earlier – and encountered no ships along the way – is north of Hawaii. Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo orders his fleet to increase speed to 25 knots and soon approaches its destination point.
At 21:00 hours, the Japanese fleet reaches the 158th meridian, 490 sea miles north of the Hawaii Islands. Nagumo sends this message to his warriors: “The fate of the Empire rests on this enterprise. Every man must devote himself totally to the task at hand.”
Before dawn, at 6 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, the six Japanese carriers launched 181 planes including torpedo bombers, dive bombers, horizontal bombers and fighters. Later, 170 planes constitute a second wave in the attack.
As a result, 2,403 Americans gave their lives that fateful day. There were 1,187 military and civilian wounded.
The shock of the attack jolted Americans out of innocence, forged a national will that galvanized America and a generation that would lead the fight and win WW-II.
“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. … Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory. … With confidence in our armed forces – with the unbounded determination of our people – we will gain the inevitable triumph – so help us God.” --Franklin D. Roosevelt
I join with all Americans this Sunday, December 7, as we stand and gratefully salute America’s “Greatest Generation.”