Yesterday marked the 80th anniversary of a day that changed everything. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said that it was "a date which will live in infamy." Yet, many seem to have forgotten.
It was on Dec. 7, 1941, that Japan carried out a surprise air attack against Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval base on Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. Shortly before 8 a.m. Hawaiian time, two waves of Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes -- some 353 planes launched from Japanese aircraft carriers -- targeted the naval base in an effort to keep the U.S. from interfering with Japan's expansionist plans in Southeast Asia.
The attack damaged or destroyed 19 U.S. naval ships, including eight U.S. battleships (sinking four of them). Also destroyed were more than 180 U.S. aircraft. The two-hour battle took the lives of 2,403 Americans, with another 1,178 wounded.
And a country that had been divided over going to war in Europe to defend Great Britain and aid other fallen European nations against Nazi Germany and fascist Italy was suddenly united in its resolve to fight back. War was declared on Japan the following day and on Germany and Italy on Dec. 11, 1941. And though the war dragged on for four years, with high U.S. casualties, the united resolve to win the war continued.
The headline in the Journal-Advance, Gentry's local newspaper, on Dec. 11, 1941, the first issue after the attack at Pearl Harbor in the territory of Hawaii (yes, Hawaii was not yet a state), read: "Roosevelt Predicts Long Struggle to Win War and Gain Peace." A subheadline read: "Four Local Boys in War Zone -- One Safe and Others Unreported -- Blackouts on Both Coasts."
The article continued: "An entire nation swept aside personal and political prejudices the past weekend to unite under the guidance of a war-time president. Japan declared war on the United States and Great Britain Sunday and in a record-breaking action, President [Franklin Delano] Roosevelt asked Congress Monday to declare the existence of a state of war which was passed in both houses with only one dissenting vote. The declaration of war against Japan was signed by the president Monday afternoon. Central and South American countries have pledged their cooperation to the United States.
"Attacks were made without warning by Japanese planes on Pearl Harbor, Honolulu and Hickam Field, Hawaii, and Philippine Islands, the first real attack on United States territory since the War of 1812. Several thousand casualties were reported in the surprise attack. Wave after wave of bombers came in from the southwest out of a cloudy sky and used Hickman Field and Pearl Harbor as main targets. A report coming from Manila said Japanese fliers raiding that area had been guided by fireworks and flare signals, indicating German participation.
"The first official casualty list published did not contain names of any Arkansas boys. However, there was an unconfirmed report of the death of Powell Henderson, son of Charles Henderson of Bentonville. Clifford Beckwith, who is in Manila, sent word to his mother at Gentry that he was safe. Other local boys known to be with the navy in the combat zone are John J. Spangler, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Spangler, east of Gentry, and Frank H. Stanton, son of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Stanton. Both boys were stationed in Pearl Harbor. Loren B. Sitton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Sitton, of Springtown, was thought to be somewhere in Hawaii. No report has been received from there.
"The California coast has been blacked out at night. Army officers said about 60 enemy planes were turned back at the entrance to Golden Gate Monday night and Pacific waters were being combed by United States aircraft and ships in search of a Japanese aircraft carrier. The east coast had an air raid alarm Tuesday night which proved to be false. All approaches to New York harbor have been mined. Every war industry in this country is now on a seven-day-a-week basis. New plants are being built and old ones are being enlarged and small plants are being used for war needs.
"In his first war-time speech to the nation Tuesday night, President Roosevelt stated in this emergency 'it is not a sacrifice to serve and it is not a sacrifice to do without things we are accustomed to.' There is enough food for everyone on our side but there is a vital shortage of metals, and citizens are called upon to save all metal and waste paper. He warned his millions of listeners that this war of defense would be a long, hard war and include Germany and Italy as foes with Japan. Japanese funds have been seized and Japanese, Italian and German people have been declared 'enemy aliens' and their movements in this country restricted.
"Japanese troops have effected a landing on the Philippines in the fray of strong American aerial attacks and claim to have landed on Guam and Wake. Four raids have been made on Manila. In the last one, Wednesday, two or three Japanese bombers were reported shot down by U.S. army fliers. Britain suffered a naval blow in the loss of two new warships off the coast of Malaya. Attacks on the British colony of Hong Kong were beaten off."
A separate ad in the Dec. 11 issue urged citizens to help win the war by enlisting in some branch of the service, buying United States Defense Bonds, saving newspapers and other waste paper to be recycled for the war effort, volunteering services to the American Red Cross, conserving all metals and gathering scrap iron, volunteering services for the home guard and serving in observation posts, conserving electricity and avoiding waste of food or clothing, cooperating in blackouts and not starting or circulating rumors which might cause panic.
In a speech to Congress on the day after the Sunday morning attack, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said of Dec. 7, 1941, that it was "a date which will live in infamy."
And in the hearts and minds of many who still remember that day from the days of their youth, or heard about it from parents and grandparents, it has. Indeed, we should never take peace and tranquility for granted!
Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.