Yes this day goes down in infamy as the day after Japan attacked the United States of America. But did you know that they knew the attack was coming and did nothing about it? Yes folks that is right! The United States had radar and detected the attack force of the Japanese but didn't warn the naval bases. This was possibly done in the hopes that the american people would become enraged and declare war on Germany. Or maybe when the radar set was switched on they just refused to believe their eyes. Some poor soul monitoring the radar station must have muttered "Damm - is this thing not working again...I better go get a coffee to wakeup!"
On Dec.7, 1941 the Japanese descended performing a surprise attack on the Naval base Pearl Harbor. Worsening relations between the United States and Japan had begun as far back as 1931 when the Tokyo government extended its power over the chinese province of Manchuria. By 1937 Tokyo was targeting chinese nationalists. By July 1941 Japan occupied all of indochina and declared allegience with Nazi Germany. When the Germans invaded Russia the militarists who hated the US for providing aid to China saw a perfect opportunity to extend their sphere of influence.
On Nov.5, 1941 the order for the assault on Pearl Harbor was issued and by Nov.16 a task force of about 30 ships including six aircraft carriers was dispatched. On Nov.26,1941 the Japanese force was officially under way after a stop over in the Kuril Islands.
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and General Walter C. Short were far from prepared. They were warned specifically of a potential attack on Oct.16,Nov.24, and Nov.27 with the final communication considered a warning of the possibility of war. Of course very few measures were undertaken. General Short ordered a sabatoge warning and concentrated his fighters on Wheelers field. Four radar units had been set up and ordered to run from 4am to 7am; the most likely time for attack but other than that no reconnaissance was performed in the Northwest -the most logical attack vector for an incoming fleet. Washington and the military leaders at Pearl Habor seemed confident an attack would not take place.
The destroyer U.S.S Ward spotted a Japanese submarine and but didn't report the occurrence. The ward did open fire on "a" submarine but while Adm. Kimmel was waiting to have the attack confirmed the assault on Pearl Harbor had already begun.
Earlier I mention "radar boy" and his observation that there was an approaching force on his scope. He phoned his lieutenant who promptly told him to "forget it" for B-17's were due in the area at just that time.
The attack that came was devastating. At 7:55am the attack began which involved 200 Japanese planes. Wheeler field was decimated. 42 U.S. planes were destroyed, others damage and only 43 left for service. Only six U.S. fighters got in the air to defend the base. The "Arizona, West Virgina,Oklahoma,Utah" were all heavily damaged or sunk. At 8:50am the next wave began and the U.S.S. "Nevada" was sunk at the entrance to the harbor and other ships were hit in the ensuing melee.
U.S. Navy casualties were numbered at 2,718 of which 2000 were dead. Six hundred army personnel were either wounded or dead. Three battleships were completely destroyed, another capsized, heavy damage to another and many more smaller ships were at the receiving end of heavy fire. From what I remember the U.S.S. Arizona may have been the ship capsized entombing approximately 1177 sailors. They have a memorial erected over it to give homage to the sailors who gave their lives in service of their country.
To me it is a tragedy that never should have occurred and it makes me emotional to think about it. There is solace in one fact - Two aircraft carriers were not at Pearl Harbour at the time of the attack. Had they been it would have crippled the air power of the United States and made it much more difficult to strike back. Most of the U.S. fleet was in Pearl Harbour at the time. The Japanese, however forgot to take out the drydocks too, which allowed the U.S. to rebuild their fleet. It was a decisive victory for Japan but a short lived one in passing. I think the events of September 11, 2001 have prompted me to write this. Whenever I see people in need it leads me to ask the question, "why must there be those who ignore the needy and engage in petty conflict. The only thing I can do is speak out and put the rest in God's hands.
