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Day Of Infamy

Dec. 7, 1941 is supposed to be a date which will live in infamy.   How come it has not been mentioned once, and it's not in the newspapers? - Kristine, Medford

I'm hoping someone will mention that today is Pearl Harbor Day.    - Jan, Abington

"...December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."  So began Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt's address to Congress and the nation, about the Japanese attack on American forces at Pearl Harbor, which brought the United States into World War II.

You can read and hear FDR's stirring speech here.

The surprise attack was devastating.  The death toll was 2402, including 57 civilians.  Another 1282 people were wounded.  More than a thousand U.S. sailors died when the USS Arizona was sunk.  Twenty one of the 96 ships anchored were sunk.  Nearly 200 planes were destroyed.

An interesting website called eyewitnesstohistory.com has accounts of the attack from the American perspective and from that of the Japanese.

The attack was not only a life changing event for Americans, but a world changing event as well.  With America's entry into the war, the balance shifted, leading to eventual victory due to the sacrifice of so many.  Today is a day to remember.

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