DECEMBER 7, 1941: “A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY”

December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy“.

A date where the United States military was caught off-guard by naval and air forces of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

A date where 1,177 U.S. naval men lost their lives.

A date where a brave and courageous Doris Miller (known as “Dorie” to shipmates and friends), Cook, Third Class, USN while stationed aboard the USS West Virginia, manned a machine gun to battle Japanese fighter planes flying overhead as the pilots shot at officers and enlisted men on the ground and on ships.

A date where half of the naval ships stationed in Pearl Harbor were blown to bits.

December 7, 1941–a date which pulled America into a war that would become known as the Pacific Theater.

Crew members aboard Shokaku launching the attack

A Japanese Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” fighter airplane of the second wave takes off from the aircraft carrier Akagi on the morning of December 7, 1941.

Zeroes of the second wave preparing to take off from Shokaku for Pearl Harbor.

A Japanese Nakajima B5N2 “Kate” torpedo bomber takes off from Shokaku.

Japanese Aichi D3A1 “Val” dive bombers of the second wave preparing for take off. Aircraft carrier Soryuin the background.

Battleship USS California sinking.

Battleship USS Arizona explodes.

Destroyer USS Shaw exploding after her forward magazine was detonated.

Battleship USS Nevada attempting to escape from the harbor.

Battleship USS West Virginia took two aerial bombs, both duds, and seven torpedo hits, one of which may have come from a midget submarine.

A destroyed B-17 after the attack on Hickam Field.

Hangar in Ford Island burns.

Aftermath: USS West Virginia (severely damaged), USS Tennessee (damaged), and the USS Arizona (sunk).

Seventy years later, the memories of the many men who lost their lives is not forgotten.

SOURCE

SALUTARE.