[December 7, 2024] We see, published today, many obligatory articles about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, occurring almost a century ago, 83 years. The attack was an operational masterstroke, given that the country of Japan could send six aircraft carriers 4,000 miles undetected, execute an air attack, and return home unmolested.
As brilliant as this operation was, the Pearl Harbor attack would soon become a catastrophic strategic failure. The intent of this attack was to give America a knockout blow that would cow the public into staying out of the Pacific War and leave Japan to continue its conquests of the western Pacific.
“And in the case of 1941-era arms, Japan was often superior to both the Americans and British – at least if it struck quickly before the two Western powers were fully rearmed. Or so [IJN Admiral] Yamamoto believed in arguing his victory would discourage the ensuing demoralized Americans from challenging a new vast Japanese Pacific empire. Supposedly Washington would sue for a truce, recognizing Japanese prior colonial acquisitions.” — Victor Davis Hanson in American Greatness
There were many reasons Japan chose December for the attack which I will not address here but the logic and audacity was a genius-level military effort. The attack was so successful – although it did not complete the planned level of destruction – even the Japanese leadership was surprised.
Ultimately, despite the Pearl Harbor attack’s success, it failed to achieve its strategic objective to cow America. The damage at Pearl was however high enough to enrage the American public sufficiently to demand we declare war on Japan. Not only did the attack not achieve its objective, the attack had the opposite effect.
The day after the devastating Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt addressed the U.S. Congress with an eloquent speech requesting a declaration of war. The clarity of his words remains exhilarating even today.
Always will we 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 believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces – with the unbounding determination of our people – we will gain the inevitable triumph – so help us God.
These words are good reason why we should always remember this attack on America at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
God Bless all that were at Pearl Harbor that day, 83 years ago, military and civilians alike.
Our World War 2 veterans are nearly all gone now. Sad.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 America the great. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
And thanks to Gen. Satterfield for writing about the Japanese attack on Hawaii in late 1941. But also remember that WWII started in September 1939. Americans think it started after this bombing. No, that was when we entered the world war. Keep the faith in our boys who carry the fight to the enemy regardless who the are or where they are.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 America will always be great. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Nailed it. 😀
Thank you, sir. Always remember. Pearl Harbor is to never be forgotten.
“ Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. ” — President Franklin Roosevelt
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This is when we had real presidents that were not interested in lining their pockets with cash from foreigners. The Biden/Pelosi/Shumer/Harris/Obama/Demorat political structure is finally being put down. Those who died and fought in WWII did not do so for the corrupt politicians we have today. Franklin Roosevelt would be rolling in his grave.
Excellent article to honor those at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii that day.
Yusaf, I was fortunate to attend last year’s memorial at Pearl Harbor. Such a wonderful celebration of the memory who were there that day, especially those who fought back and helped drive off the Japanese naval Air Force. If not for them, two more waves of attacks that were planned didn’t occur and we survived that day to fight again. Lesson learned for the US Navy, don’t line up all your battleships in a row or, well we saw what happens.
Yes, and that is why I can rely on Gen. Satterfield for an honest, respectful blog post every day.
Indeed, and I might add that Pearl Harbour was a terrible incident and under any objective assessment of the war England and her Allies were very fortunate indeed to have the Americans join the fray as we would most certainly have lost WWII without their manpower, machines and enthusiasm. Thank you America and I agree, God Bless those brave souls and the United States of America. So very sad they had to sacrifice their lives to trigger the USA joining forces with us against the Japanese and Germany. Cheers.
Sir, we are still Allies and will always will be because we share a heritage that is great.
America the great because of the many who gave their lives like on December 7, 1941.
A dastardly attack that lead directly to the unconditional surrender of Imperial Japan. At the end of the war, America was the only superpower left, and it was used for good, not like any superpower before it in the annals of history.
True, and that surely says something important and probably one of the reasons that America is a bastion of freedom and generosity.
USA USA USA USA USA USA USA
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And we could go into our history and look at those times like now when the USA was rudderless like under the horrific Biden Criminal Family (TM) that is nothing more than leading us down the Third World direction. Praise the Lord that Do all Trump was elected and that the Obama-Clinton-Biden cabal went down in flames 🔥. The loss of the Democrat Party was the best thing to happen since WWII. Today, we remember Pearl Harbor, and rightly so.
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GOD BLESS AMERICA
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