The United States mobilized for war after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Essay by KmartHigh School, 11th gradeA-, April 2004

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U.S. History 2

March 9, 2004

The United States mobilized for war after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The day was December 7th, 1941; it was a bright sunny day, highs in the upper 70's. It was about 0610 hours and the Japanese carriers were already on there way to Pearl Harbor. Mitsuo Fuchida, lead's the Japanese carrier ship heading towards Pearl Harbor. The waves crashed across the flight decks as the carriers headed for their destination. A total of 183 airplanes were on board including, torpedo and bombers, heading for Pearl Harbor. The Japanese pilots used Honolulu's radio station for their as a guide for navigation. At 0645 hours the United States destroyer Ward reported the sighting of a Japanese midget submarine. Ward moved in to destroy it. Lt. William W. Outerbridge, the commander of the Ward, who had only been in charge for two days ordered his men to commence fire on the submarine.

The Ward fired two shots at the midget submarine. One shot missing and the other hitting the waterline of the sub. The men on board the sub made repairs and then submerged into the water. At 0653 hours the Ward radio's the 14th Navel Headquarters in Pearl Harbor about the sub sighting. Meanwhile on the base at 0702 hours the army's Opana Mobile Radar Station used the radar to see if there were any planes coming. One of the privates looked at the radar and he couldn't believe his eyes, so he asked his officer to look at the radar and they confirmed that fifty or more planes were on there way to Oahu. At the same time Adm.

Husband E. Kimmel commander of the Pacific Fleet who had a lot of false reports on submarines in the area, decided to wait for a...