Pearl Harbor attack was 77 years ago today – don’t forget the 2,403 Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
This year marks the 76th anniversary of the Japanese surprise attacks that shook our nation – but only strengthened our resolve to defend our great country and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
It’s a date that lives in infamy, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt said years ago, and it still rings true.
On Dec. 7, 1941, the U.S. lost more than 2,400 lives when the Japanese surprise-attacked the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The next day, Roosevelt declared war on Japan, and the United States entered World War II.
Japan attacked because it wanted to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet away from its military plans in Southeast Asia.
Japan launched two waves of attack against the U.S. base with 353 Imperial Japanese aircraft, including fighters, dive bombers and torpedo bombers.
All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, and four were sunk.
The USS Arizona was the only ship not recovered; six would later return to service and fight in the war.
Japan also destroyed three U.S. cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship and a minelayer. More than 300 aircraft were destroyed or damaged.
There were 2,403 Americans killed and another 1,178 were wounded, including civilians.
To honor the sacrifices of those lost on this day, the U.S. Pacific Fleet holds a ceremony.
The Pacific Fleet will stream the ceremony live on Facebook at 12:45 p.m. Eastern Time.
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