On the evening of December 8th 1941, millions of Americans across the nation tuned in to their radios to listen to these famous words, “Yesterday, December 7, 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” (Roosevelt). Franklin D. Roosevelt’s words spoke loud and clear to everyone who was listening as the news from the day before still settled in. Just 36 hours prior to these words, at 8am the morning of December 7th hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, leaving chaos and destruction behind. In total nearly 20 US navy vessels were destroyed and over 2300 American soldiers were killed. In an article written soon after the attack, a soldier was recorded saying, “Every last one of the 130,000,000 of us is in this up to his neck” (Forget). His words revealed to many Americans that the affects from Pearl Harbor weren’t just going to leave a mark in Hawaii. It would leave a scar on the whole country. In 1941, Joseph Clark Grew was American
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It is a day we remember for many reasons. We remember the many men who lost their lives during this devastating attack. We also remember the many men who served during WWII. Most of all, however, we remember how our great nation turned a tragedy into a raging battle cry. It is recorded that during important battles, many American men went into battle by yelling “Remember Pearl Harbor” (Military). Pearl Harbor was only the beginning for the United States, as many men would go on to fight in World War II. Pearl Harbor is seen as a horrific tragedy, but as commander George Marshall said, “More importantly the shock and anger caused by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor united a divided nation and was translated into a wholehearted American commitment to victory in World War II”
It is a day we remember for many reasons. We remember the many men who lost their lives during this devastating attack. We also remember the many men who served during WWII. Most of all, however, we remember how our great nation turned a tragedy into a raging battle cry. It is recorded that during important battles, many American men went into battle by yelling “Remember Pearl Harbor” (Military). Pearl Harbor was only the beginning for the United States, as many men would go on to fight in World War II. Pearl Harbor is seen as a horrific tragedy, but as commander George Marshall said, “More importantly the shock and anger caused by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor united a divided nation and was translated into a wholehearted American commitment to victory in World War II”