NEWBERRY — Today is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day, a day to remember and honor the 2,403 citizens of the United States who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941.

This year’s celebration is also the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and an opportunity to honor the sacrifice and dedication of our “Greatest Generation” both civilian and military, who endured incredible sacrifices on Dec. 7, 1941, the “date which will live in infamy.”

It would thrust America into World War II, changing Hawaii and America forever.

On Aug. 23, 1994, the U.S. Congress designated Dec. 7 of each year as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

On Pearl Harbor Day, the American flag should be flown at half-staff until sunset to honor those who died as a result of the attack on U.S. military and naval forces in Hawaii.

Now for a little history.

The day was Dec. 7, 1941. The first of two waves of Japanese aircraft was launched into the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Oahu Island, Hawaii. The attack lasted for more than two hours.

History.com writes that the attacks came with no warning and destroyed around 188 U.S. aircraft. A U.S. Army private had noticed on his radar a host of planes coming in, but was told to ignore them since a flight of B-17s from the United States was expected to come in.

The attacks came to be after an extensive rivalry between the Japanese and Americans in the Pacific. The Japanese succeeded in planning a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, partly due to failures in U.S. intelligence.

Although the attacks destroyed many American battleships, aircraft carriers came out of the attacks unharmed.

The first dive bomber appeared over Pearl Harbor at 7:55 a.m. The Japanese chose to attack Pearl Harbor on a Sunday morning because that was the best time for maximum surprise and because they were not fully manned at the time, according to Britannica.com.

This bomber was the first of nearly 200 aircraft, including torpedo planes, bombers and fighters. In the attacks, the Japanese lost between 29 and 60 planes, five midget submarines, two fleet submarines and fewer than 100 men.

Although many survived the attacks, more than 2,400 Americans were killed and another 1,200 injured.

President Franklin Roosevelt termed the attacks on Pearl Harbor as the “date which will live in infamy,” and on Dec. 8 Congress declared war on Japan. On Dec. 11, 1941, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States, which would result in the beginning of World War II.

For Japan, Pearl Harbor was a success. Following the attacks, the Japanese would take on conquests in Hong Kong, Singapore, Burma, the Philippines, Malaya and New Guinea.

It has even been said by historians that President Roosevelt welcomed the attacks to bring the United States into war. But through later investigations, it was determined that although an attack from Japan was probable, there was no knowledge of the time or place where it would occur.

The Battleship USS Missouri as seen from the USS Arizona Memorial.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_pearlharbor02.jpgThe Battleship USS Missouri as seen from the USS Arizona Memorial. Courtesy photos

The USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_pearlharbor01.jpgThe USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Courtesy photos

By Kelly Duncan

kduncan@civitasmedia.com

Reach Kelly Duncan at 803-768-3123 ext. 1868 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.