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N0KFQ > TODAY 07.12.11 20:39l 60 Lines 2786 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 14775_KB0WSA
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Subj: Today in History - Dec 7
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<JH4XSY<JE7YGF<F6CDD<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 111207/1820Z 14775@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.0.4
Dec 7, 1941:
"A date which will live in infamy"
On this day, in an early-morning sneak attack, Japanese warplanes
bomb the U.S. naval base at Oahu Island's Pearl Harbor_and the
United States enters World War II.
President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Cordell Hull knew a
Japanese attack was imminent. Having received intelligence
reports of intercepted coded messages from Tokyo to the Japanese
ambassador in the United States, the president anticipated
Japanese reprisals for his government's refusal to reverse
economic sanctions and embargoes against Japan. The Roosevelt
administration had remained firm in its demand that the Japanese
first withdraw from China and French Indochina, which it had
invaded in 1937 and July 1941, respectively, and renounce its
alliance with fascist Germany and Italy.
But Japan refused, demanding that the United States first end the
embargo on oil shipments vital for Tokyo's war machine. Although
negotiations between the two nations continued up to the very
last minute, Roosevelt was aware of a secret November 25
deadline, established by Tokyo, that confirmed military action on
the part of the Japanese should they not received satisfaction
from the negotiations. While forewarned, Washington could not
pinpoint the time or place of an attack.
Despite initially objecting to war with America, Admiral Isoruku
Yamamoto believed that if Prime Minister Hideki Tojo was
determined to go to war, it was Japan who had to make a
preemptive strike. Yamamoto studied the devastating November 1940
British attack against the Italian fleet at Taranto, and planned
and led the sneak attack against the United States. Approximately
360 Japanese warplanes were launched from six aircraft carriers,
reinforced by battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. The first
dive-bomber was spotted over Pearl Harbor at 7:55 a.m. Hawaii
time. It was followed by 200 aircraft, which decimated the
American ships anchored there, most of which were only lightly
manned because it was Sunday morning. Among the 18 U.S. ships
destroyed, sunk, or capsized were the Arizona, Virginia,
California, Nevada, and West Virginia. More than 180 planes were
destroyed on the ground and another 150 were damaged (leaving but
43 operational). American casualties totaled more than 3,400,
with more than 2,400 killed (1,000 on the Arizona alone). The
Japanese lost fewer than 100 men.
In the short term, the Japanese goal of crippling U.S. naval
strength in the Pacific, and thereby giving Tokyo free reign to
gobble up more of Southeast Asia and the South Pacific in its
dream of imperial expansion, was successful. But the war had only
just begun.
73, K.O. n0kfq
Another old retired guy
E-mail: n0kfq@winlink.org
N0KFQ@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
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