NATIONAL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY. FULL

We continue to be inspired by the proud legacy left by the brave patriots of the Greatest Generation who served in every capacity during World War II, from keeping factories operating on the home front to fighting on the battlefields in Europe, North Africa, and the South Pacific. While nearly eight decades have passed since the last sounds of battle rang out over Pearl Harbor, we will never forget the immeasurable sacrifices these courageous men and women made so that we may live today in peace and prosperity.

NATIONAL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY. FULL

More than 400,000 of these brave men and women never returned home, giving their last full measure of devotion for our Nation. Across the Atlantic and Pacific, 16 million American servicemen and women fought to victory, making the world safe for freedom and democracy once again.

In his address to the Congress the following day, broadcast to the Nation over radio, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt assured us that “ith confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph.” In the days, months, and years that followed, the full might of the American people, industry, and military was brought to bear on our enemies. Yet the dauntless resolve of the American people remained unwavering and unbreakable. In the wake of this heinous attack, the United States was left stunned and wounded. For his valor, Miller was awarded the Navy Cross and was the first African-American recognized with this honor. In one remarkable act of bravery, Doris “Dorie” Miller, a steward aboard the USS West Virginia, manned a machine gun and successfully shot down multiple Japanese aircraft despite not having been trained to use the weapon. As a solemn testament to the heroism that abounded that day, 15 American servicemen were awarded the Medal of Honor - 10 of which were awarded posthumously. Soldiers on the ground fired nearly 300,000 rounds of ammunition and fearlessly rushed to the aid of their wounded brothers in arms. Sprinting through a hailstorm of lead, pilots rushed to the few remaining planes and took to the skies to fend off the incoming Japanese attackers. Most tragically, 2,335 American service members and 68 civilians were killed, marking that fateful day as one of the deadliest in our Nation’s history.ĭespite the shock of the attack, American service members at Pearl Harbor fought back with extraordinary courage and resilience. Following this swift assault, the United States Pacific Fleet and most of the Army and Marine airfields on the island were left decimated. on December 7, 1941, airplanes launched from the Empire of Japan’s aircraft carriers dropped bombs and torpedoes from the sky, attacking our ships moored at Naval Station Pearl Harbor and other military assets around Oahu. On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we solemnly remember the tragic events of that morning and honor those who perished in defense of our Nation that day and in the ensuing 4 years of war. Seventy-eight years ago today, the course of our Nation’s history was forever altered by the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii.

National pearl harbor remembrance day.