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Remembering Pearl Harbor

By STAFF WRITER
Published December 7, 2005

	STORIES TO TELL: Click each link to read the person's story:
	Amon Downs
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Each generation views history through different eyes. Today we look at the "date which will live in infamy" from the perspectives of two who experienced it, one who was born that year, and two who also learned about it from others. Share your memories in our online guestbook at www.sptimes.com/pearlharbor

DECEMBER 7, 1941

3:42 a.m.

U.S. Navy minesweeper Condor sights submarine periscope

6:10 a.m.

First wave of planes take off from Japanese aircraft carriers

6:45 a.m.

U.S. destroyer Ward attacks a Japanese submarine

6:53 a.m.

Ward sends message to headquarters that a submarine attacked at Pearl Harbor

7:02 a.m.

Radar operators on Oahu report 50 unidentified planes 132 miles away and heading for Hawaii

7:15 a.m.

At Navy headquarters, the decoding process delays Ward message

7:20 a.m.

Expecting U.S. bombers, officer ignores radar report of unidentified aircraft

7:33 a.m.

Warning message from Washington reaches Honolulu civilian telegraph office

7:40 a.m.

First wave of Japanese planes reaches Oahu

7:49 a.m.

Japanese aerial commander orders surprise attacks

7:55 a.m.

Japanese planes strike; there is torpedo plane after torpedo plane

8 a.m.

Unaware of attack, scheduled B-17 bombers from California reach Oahu

8:10 a.m.

Ammunition, ignited by bomb, explodes on battleship Arizona in a hellish fireball

8:17 a.m.

U.S. destroyer Helm fires at Japanese submarine trying to enter harbor

8:50 a.m.

Hard-hit battleship Nevada dashes toward open sea

8:54 a.m.

Second wave of Japanese planes hit Pearl Harbor

9:30 a.m.

Bomb blows up U.S. destroyer Shaw

10 a.m.

Japanese planes head back to their carriers

10:30 a.m.

Casualties mount, filling hospitals; Pearl Harbor begins attending to the wounded, the dying and the dead

1 p.m.

Japanese carriers begin voyage home.

Excerpts from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's response to the nation:

"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. ...

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. ...

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. ...

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire."

More information on World War II is available in a special interactive report at www.sptimes.com/WWII

ON THE WEB: A sample of Web sites with more on Pearl Harbor

USS Arizona Memorial

http://www.nps.gov/usar/

Department of the Navy -- Naval Historical Center

The Pearl Harbor Attack Information Webpage

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq66-1.htm

National Geographic - Remembering Pearl Harbor

http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/

Osprey Publishings Encyclopedia of Pearl Harbor

http://www.essentialpearlharbor.com/

Eyewitness Accounts of the Attack on Pearl Harbor

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl.htm

Full Pearl Harbor Casualty List

http://www.usswestvirginia.org/fulllist.htm

[Last modified December 6, 2005, 17:28:02]