Pearl Harbor
By: Dalton Keller
Before the attack
The event of Pearl Harbor, a day to remember. That day on December 7 the U.S. was trying to make peace with the Japanese Emperor. The Japanese sent 14 coded messages saying the peace talk was over. The U.S. figured out the plan on Pearl Harbor and tried to inform Pearl Harbor but was unable to warn them because the radio line to Hawaii was broken. The Japanese launched their first wave of bombers at 6 a.m. two U.S. soldiers see the planes on radar and inform an officer but was dismissed because the officer believed it was American B17s that was planning on coming from the west.
The Attack
The first wave of attacks began at 7:53 a.m. the Japanese attacked the airfields and battleships. The base is not on high alert so the planes were parked wingtip to wingtip and the AA guns left unmanned and with most ammo locked up. The Harbor also doesnt have any torpedo nets protecting the ships. The attack lasts until 9:45 a.m. a total of 8 Battleships was damaged with 5 sunk, also 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers, and 3 smaller ships are sunk and 188 planes are also destroyed. The Japanese lost 27 planes and 5 subs. This horrifying attack killed 2335 soldiers 68 civilians and wounded 1178. The U.S. aircraft carriers Lexington, Enterprise and Saratoga are undamaged. The next day on December 8 the U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan. Then on December 11 Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S. and Britain. Then on December 17 the senior commanders are relieved of the duties for not having proper defense measures.
Pearl Harbor Today
Pearl Harbor is a sad moment in our history causing war with Japan. It is very important for people to know and remember Pearl Harbor and understand how and why it happened. This moment shocked the U.S. and the next day the war with Japan had begun. The attack on Pearl Harbor caused many lives to be lost, we must learn from our mistakes so a repeat of the tragic event won't happen again.