Flashback Friday - Dec. 7th 1941, The Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor

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Almost 80 year ago today an event occurred that changed the tides of WWII.  The war had been raging in Europe, but he US had mostly stayed out of it.  That is until the Japanese decided to attack and bomb Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.  This attacked killed 2,335 Americans and was the reason the US finally put both feet into the fire to enter the WWII stage.


Source: Wikipedia

On December 7th at 7:48 am Hawaii time, the base was attacked.  353 Japanese aircraft were launched from nearby aircraft carriers and started attacking.  Many of them after running out of bombs and ammo would nose dive into ships trying to sink them.  All eight battle ships in the harbor were damaged and 4 were sunk.  All but the USS Arizona were raised and repaired and 6 returned to service.  The USS Arizona remains there today along with the crew forever entombed as a reminder of that fateful day.

I recently had the opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor and see some of the aftermath from that attack.  It is a solemn experience to walk the area and visit the site of such tragedy.  I was able to tour the USS Missouri and see what life was like aboard one of those ships.



As we toured through the ship it was amazing to see how life was on board.  Got to see sleeping quarters, cafeterias, captains chambers, guns and controls.  It was just amazing.  We were able to see the letters of the Kamikaze pilots to their families who flew their planes into whatever they could.  It was very interesting and sad to read these last words of men who thought they were doing what is right for their country and families.  It is saddening to think of all the lives lost due to this attack.


But the best part to me was being able to stand right where the Japanese signed their unconditional surrender aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945 in the Tokyo Bay Japan.


Sadly we were not able to tour the USS Arizona memorial as it was closed for repairs. I was able to see it from afar and snap a pic from the top of the gun mount aboard the USS Missouri. I  was able to tour it as a teenager many years back, but at that time did not understand the severity and impact of what happened that day.


I will always remember this experience and be forever grateful to those who gave their lives during this attack and the war to come.  It is because of them that today the USA stands as a free nation.

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