Today we remember Pearl Harbor facts in honor of the men and women who lost their lives in the Hawaiian island.
Here are 12 things to remember the attack by:
- The attack was a surprise ordered by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters.
- It was an early morning attack that took place at around 7:48 a.m.
- The day marked the beginning of the U.S. involvement in World War II.
- 353 Imperial Japanese fighter planes, bombers and torpedo planes were involved in the bombing.
- The Japanese ordered with the intent of sinking American fleets that could attack Japan via the Pacific Ocean.
- There were six aircraft carriers that left Japan and carried out the attack in Pearl Harbor.
- The attacks were later considered to be a war crime by Japan as there was no declaration of war preceding the attacks.
- Japan did send a declaration of war, but the message was too long to transcribe on time and it caught the island by surprise.
- 2,008 sailors were killed, while another 710 were wounded. 218 soldiers and airmen were killed and 364 were wounded, 109 marines were killed and 69 were wounded, while 68 civilians were killed and 35 wounded.
- In total, 2,403 Americans died and 1,178 were wounded.
- 15 Medals of Honor were given out after the attacks took place.
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt showed solidarity for the hearts of American by calling the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941 “a date which will live in infamy.
