‘A date that will live in infamy’

Posted 8/12/16

Yesterday, Dec. 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,” President …

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‘A date that will live in infamy’

Posted

Yesterday, Dec. 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,” President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his address to Congress Dec. 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where our Pacific fleet was stationed. The president asked Congress to declare war on Japan.“A date that will live in infamy” is embedded in the minds of Americans who were living 75 years ago. Memories abound. The Japanese had envoys in Washington, D.C., on the day of the attack to discuss peaceful relations in the Pacific.President Roosevelt said in his message to Congress that just one hour after Japanese air squadron commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the U.S. and his colleagues delivered to the secretary of state a formal replay to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack. Thus what happened was to be forever known as a “sneak attack.”Of the 94 warships in Pearl Harbor on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, 19 were sunk or severely damaged. More than 300 aircraft were destroyed. The casualty toll was more than 2,000 American soldiers and sailors who were killed and another 1,000 were wounded.Three days after the attack, America entered the war against Germany and Italy.Dec. 7, 1941, 75 years ago, still alive is “Remember Pearl Harbor.”


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