Dec. 7, 1941: Attack drew us into war - New Bern Sun Journal

"With a single act, Japanwoke Americato the horrible realities of war. The debate that had divided Americans since the German defeat of Francewas decided, Americawould go to war. President Roosevelt received word of the attack on a Sunday afternoon and stated he would ask Congress to declare war on Japan."

Pearl HarborSurvivors Association

 

Why is it important that we remember the attack on Pearl Harbor, a painful piece of U.S. and military history that to new generations of Americans seems far in the past — even overwhelmed by the more recent Day of Infamy II, the attacks of 9/11?

There are thousands of reasons the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, will be forever a touchstone for our nation and the foundation for America's evolving role in the world for the next several decades.

The numbers alone tell the compelling story of that morning in what was then a lonesome U.S. naval outpost in Hawaii, a string of island that would become a state less than 20 years later. It came under attack without warning from Japan, as Hitler was commanding a marauding German force across Europe. Horrifying events in Europe were well known in America, a nation at that time battling exceptional economic distress and in no mood to go to war.

And then came Pearl Harbor, which launched our nation into war with Japan. Later, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S., which sealed our entry into World War II.

Life would be forever different as a result.

Consider:

> 2,388 Americans died in the air attack and 1,178 Americans were wounded

> 21 American ships were sunk or damaged

> 323 American aircraft were destroyed or damaged

> 1,177 Americans involved in the attack were serving on the USS Arizona

> Only 333 servicemen serving on the USS Arizona survived the attack

While it's heartening to note that an average of 4,000 people tour the site of the Pearl Harbor attack each day and 1.5 million visit the USS Arizona memorial annually, according to the National Park Service, it still seems the attack strays further from our national consciousness. It's become something present generations are only aware of via movies and TV. The escalating demise of the "Greatest Generation" is putting this critical event in U.S. history evermore into the rear-view mirror of modern society. The gathering of Pearl Harbor survivors grows smaller.

Today, as people converge in Honolulu or other sites to mark the anniversary of what has become known as Pearl Harbor Day, it is instructive to remember the impact and legacy of this epic event. Author Peter Dowswell, in his 2003 book "Pearl Harbor," writes that for 60 years Pearl Harbor lived up to President Franklin Roosevelt's description as "a date that will live in infamy."

"It has been invoked to remind Americans about the consequences of treachery by foreign powers and complacency in government. The United States' foreign policy has been based on the thinking 'No more Pearl Harbors' ever since," he wrote.

In a larger sense, though, the attack on Pearl Harbor sealed America's fate to be a global leader during World War II and beyond — a role this nation still plays.