That ended on August 1, 1941, after the Japanese extended its reach into French Indochina (now Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia). Previously, Japan had received much of its supply from the United States, which at that time produced nearly two-thirds of the world’s oil. As its forces moved south, a primary goal was the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), a significant producer of oil. Oil, which many have blamed for recent wars, was a huge factor in Japan’s thinking. The Japanese attacked the Philippines, an American commonwealth at the time the American outposts of Guam, Wake Island, and Midway Island and the British colony of Malaya (the continental part of what is now the country of Malaysia). It was already December 8 in Japan, as well as in Asia and the western Pacific, all of which are across the International Date Line from Hawaii. Pearl Harbor was just one of multiple attacks that day. The Japanese were hoping to land a knockout punch that morning, one that would keep America out of the war in Asia and the Pacific, or at least force the Americans to accept Japan’s expansion across the area. to quickly repair many of its ships on site. Not only that, but Japan made a critical strategic mistake when it failed to destroy the fuel depot, the submarine base, and the shipyards, which allowed the U.S. While the term luck should never be applied to a day like this one, the United States did catch a break: none of the aircraft carriers stationed at Pearl Harbor were in port at the time. All eight of the battleships were damaged, two of them, the USS Arizona and the USS Oklahoma, irreparably.ĭestroying the battleships had been a main goal in the attack for the Japanese. Navy and Army bases at Pearl Harbor-including the Army Air Force facilities-resulted in the death of 2,403 Americans, with another 1,178 injured.Īs for the ability to wage war, 188 planes were destroyed, and another 159 damaged. “The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.”
“The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan,” Roosevelt went on to say. President Franklin Roosevelt said at the time.
The date of Decemwas “a date which will live in infamy,” U.S. The United States was drawn into World War II. local time on this day 80 years ago, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was attacked. The parade takes place each year in Hawaii on December 7th - the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.At 7:53 a.m. The theme of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade is "remembering our past while celebrating that once bitter enemies can become friends and allies." The purpose of the parade is to honor and pay respect to the Pearl Harbor survivors, our veterans, active duty military and their families. The Annual Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade will also feature the WWII80 Pearl Harbor Massed Band and Choir in our official opening ceremony. This will be an important reminder of that fateful day, while providing hope that from conflict and the devastation of war, peace and friendship can occur. During this five year WWII commemoration period, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade will commemorate the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Now, over 80 years later, Americans and people from all over the world gather to pay tribute to those whose service and sacrifice preserved freedom and liberty at home and abroad. December 7, 1941, was a day that would live in infamy and thrust the United States of America into the second World War.