Never forget....

December 7, 1941

"A day that will live in infamy" FDR

Take a moment today to remember the service men and women who lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

If you ever visit Hawaii you must make the effort to visit the Pearl Harbor National Monument on Oahu. Every US visitor should make it a must do on their itinerary.

Today, the USS Arizona Memorial stands as a silent reminder of the horror that occurred at 0600 on Dec 7. She was totally destroyed and rests at the bottom of the harbor as she did 67 years ago. The white memorial straddles the sunken grave. It also displays the names of all who died during the attack. This is a very "heavy" experience when you step onto the memorial and look down into the solemn waters that surround the Arizona. No movie, no book, no pictures and no lectures can prepare you for the actual experience you will have while visiting this location. It truly is one of the most powerful moving experiences you may ever have.

While living in Hawaii I have visited Pearl Harbor about 6 times. When family & friends visit and they want to visit Pearl Harbor, I do not respond by saying "I've 'been there done that' so many times"........ I simply do not hesitate and gladly join them. Plus I enjoy being "tour guide"!

Pearl Harbor today. Foreground; USS Missouri Battleship, berthed as she would have been if docked in 1941. She sits on the location of the USS Oklahoma which was totally destroyed during the attacked. (Missouri deck is also where the Japanese surrendered to the US)
Just above is the USS Arizona Memorial. Most ships were berthed in this direction and side-by-side of each other.

Above is a closer look at the sunken USS Arizona and her white memorial.

Dec 7, 1941 Battleship Row up in smoke.

Little history lesson:

At 0600 on Dec 7, the Japanese launch their attack. 423 airplanes take off from carriers 230 miles north of Oahu. Many waves of attacks occur over the next few hours. Many other locations on Oahu were attacked, not just Pearl Harbor.

When it was over, US losses were:

Killed in Action (KIA) Wounded in Action (WIA)

Casualties

USA : 218 KIA, 364 WIA.

USN: 2,008 KIA, 710 WIA.

USMC: 109 KIA, 69 WIA.

Civilians: 68 KIA, 35 WIA.

TOTAL: 2,403 KIA, 1,178 WIA.

Battleships

USS Arizona (BB-39) - total loss when a bomb hit her magazine.

USS Oklahoma (BB-37) - Total loss when she capsized and sunk in The harbor.

USS California (BB-44) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and Repaired.

USS West Virginia (BB-48) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and Repaired.

USS Nevada - (BB-36) Beached to prevent sinking. Later repaired.

USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) - Light damage.

USS Maryland (BB-46) - Light damage.

USS Tennessee (BB-43) Light damage.

USS Utah (AG-16) - (former battleship used as a target) - Sunk.

Cruisers

USS New Orleans (CA-32) - Light Damage..

USS San Francisco (CA-38) - Light Damage.

USS Detroit (CL-8) - Light Damage.

USS Raleigh (CL-7) - Heavily damaged but repaired.

USS Helena (CL-50) - Light Damage.

USS Honolulu (CL-48) - Light Damage.

Destroyers

USS Downes (DD-375) - Destroyed. Parts salvaged.

USS Cassin - (DD-372) Destroyed. Parts salvaged.

USS Shaw (DD-373) - Very heavy damage.

USS Helm (DD-388) - Light Damage.

Minelayer USS Ogala (CM-4) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.

Seaplane Tender USS Curtiss (AV-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired.

Repair Ship USS Vestal (AR-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired.

Harbor Tug USS Sotoyomo (YT-9) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.

Aircraft 188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 U.S Army Air Corps.)