December 7th, 1941

President Franklin Roosevelt called December 7, 1941....

"a date which will live in infamy."

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On that day, Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The bombing killed more than 2,400 Americans. Destroyed the Battleship U.S.S. Arizona and capsized the U.S.S. Oklahoma. The attack sank or beached a total of twelve ships and damaged nine others. 160 aircraft were destroyed and 150 others damaged. The attack took the country by surprise, especially the ill-prepared Pearl Harbor base.

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The Commander-in-Chief Pacific at Pearl harbor, sent this hurried dispatch to all major navy commands and fleet units.

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"AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT DRILL."

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Radio stations receiving the news interrupted regular broadcasts to announce the tragic news to the American public. Most people knew what the attack meant for the U.S. even before Roosevelt's official announcement the next day. The U.S. would declare war on Japan.

Photo: United States Library of Congress

Believed to be in the Public Domain

Source:

americaslibrary.gov