The Attack on Pearl Harbor

The Attack ON Pearl Harbor

The attack of Pearl Harbor on the United States, was a surprise attack by the Japanese, who at the time were having peace talks with us. The U.S. viewed this assault as an attack on the world. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, (FDR) knew his duty was to defend the rest of the world. By the nature of the attack the U.S. were able to tell that the plan was made weeks or even months ago. The deliberate attack of Pearl Harbor sent the U.S. into a frenzy. FDR, proclaimed it as a day that will live in infamy. It has lived up to that as many people still have vigils and remembrances on December 7, 1941. The next day, FDR used his power as commander of the army and declared a state of war with the Japanese because of the deceptive tactics they used.

English: United States President Franklin D. Roose...

The USS Arizona (BB-39) burning after the Japanese...

Aerial view of the U.S. Naval Operating Base, Pear...

(National Archives)

One of the most ridiculous aspects of this battle was that no one was ready for the attack. We did drills and missions daily to get prepared for war. Never did we expect a surprise attack on a Sunday morning in December, with no real provocation. We were a mess. Men were not at their posts that morning, and definitely did not have the supplies. Warnings were ignored. The hospital was very understaffed. Many soldiers were still sleeping. We should have been prepared for this. It's embarrassing that we could not retaliate. We had been training for this moment for years now, expecting it everyday. We failed when the day actually came: (Pearl Harbor Remembered)

An early Sunday morning attack cannot be our excuse for not being ready. At 3:40 in the morning the USS Condor was on duty when they saw a periscope jutting up from the...