Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

On Sunday morning at 7:55 A.M., December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (forces were led by Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo) attacked Naval Station Pearl Harbor in Honululu, Hawaii, without warning and without a declaration of war, killing 2,403 American non-combatants, and injuring 1,178 others. The attack sank two U.S. Navy battleships and damaged five others. It also damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer. The Japanese only attacked the ships at Pearl Harbor Naval base and airplanes at Hickman Airfield, leaving surrounding areas such as repair facilities, the submarine base and fuel oil storages areas unharmed. Aircraft losses were 188 destroyed and 159 damaged.

The Japanese fleet consisted of 353 planes that attacked in two waves. Only 28 Japanese planes were shot down and 5 midget submarines sunk.

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is observed annually in the United States on December 7, is to remember and honor the 2,403 victims who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. There was a floating National Monument erected on the hull of the sunken Arizona in 1962. On August 23, 1994, United States Congress, by Pub.L. 103–308, designated December 7 of each year as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day. It is a tradition to fly the Flag of the United States at half-staff until sunset in honor of dead patriots.

Historical fact: The United States declared war on Japan the next day as FDR gave his famous "Day of Infamy" speech to Congress.The U.S. declared war on Germany and Italy on December 11, after they declared war on the U.S.

Source: ilstu.edu | wikipedia.org | state.gov