Pearl Harbor Day

Seventy years ago today the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and effectively brought the United States into the Second World War as an active combatant. 

The attack in itself was a surprise, and despite how many people claim to the contrary (most of which based off of information that while we can put together in hindsight was not seen as such at the time) I still know that it was.  Heck, the Japanese government meant for it to be regardless of what we knew at the time since they did not cut off diplomatic ties until after the attack had started, though they were meant to before the attack but the delegates were delayed. But since the fleet that attacked Pearl Harbor had to leave Japan week before the attack the delegates in Washington’s timing was of little consequence since they knew they were just biding time. 

The war that this attack was a part of (which started the war for the United States) would be one of if not the most destructive in human history killing a total of 2.5% of the entire population of the planet with some 60 million deaths.  Within a few days the United States was at war with Germany and Italy too. The conflict would take the lives of over 400,000 Americas and would shift the balance of power in the world from the end of that war on.

This year will mark another historic event for Pearl Harbor; the national Pearl Harbor Association will come to a close at the end of the year. With fewer and fewer people being around for it there is no longer the population to keep it going. Though, local chapters will still go on. These veterans have been spending the past seventy years remembering their brothers in arms that they lost that day, which is something that we should all do today.

Tomorrow: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception