What Went Wrong? Pearl Harbor Attack on Dec. 7, 1941

Poster designed to remind Americans through the long war to keep fighting. Courtesy National Archives. This is the sixth and final part of my series commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor which occurred on December 7, 1941. ** If you’ve not read the previous entries to this series, please do so... Continue Reading →

Dick Girocco – Survivor of the Attack at Pearl Harbor

The USS Arizona burns after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. National Archives. Some 'Behind the Scenes' Info: My interview with Dick Girocco was unique among my 260 talks with veterans from World War II. Ordinarily, I sat in front of a veteran while he/she told their stories about military service. I... Continue Reading →

Americans react to the Japanese Attack

The USS Shaw explodes during the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941. National Archives “Ten Minutes of Terror” -- Part 4 A 5-Part Series Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor ** Following the 7:57 a.m. Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, the sailors of Pearl Harbor frantically tried... Continue Reading →

Ten Minutes of Terror — Part 3

The USS ARIZONA burns after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, National Archives A 5-Part Series Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor On December 7, 1944, as dawn crested, the Japanese Imperial Navy fleet’s aircraft carriers continued their journey from the North Pacific south toward their prey. Approximately... Continue Reading →

What Led to the Japanese Attack at Pearl Harbor? Part 2

Japanese Zero fighters fly a mission of destruction to Nanzheng, China, 26 May 1941 (public domain via Wikipedia) The Military Build-Up to December 7, 1941 — What happened in the last days of peace before the collision between the United States and Japan? In July 1941 the Japanese leadership made the fateful decision to go... Continue Reading →

What Led to the Japanese Attack at Pearl Harbor? Part 1

This year is the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor which occurred on December 7, 1941. To commemorate that significant event in our nation’s history, each week leading up to that date I’ll post information about it. As you’re reading through the posts, leave a comment to let me know how this... Continue Reading →

Attack at Pearl Harbor From a Child’s Point of View – Part 1

This is the first of a 3-part series of excerpted stories about the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor that occurred on December 7, 1941. They are all stories from people I’ve interviewed. Their stories are published in the books listed. ** Charlotte Butterfield Schnieders lived in Honolulu as a preschooler when the Japanese bombed Pearl... Continue Reading →

WWII Vets Remember Pearl Harbor

  “At 0800 hours on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a cacophony of unfamiliar noises on Ford Island caused Seaman 2nd class Richard Girocco and other seamen from his PBY squadron (‘patrol bomber’) to run outside of their aviation hangar. Ordinarily, the seamen would be resting on their bunks. Today, they had been ordered to prepare... Continue Reading →

Pearl Harbor Naval Survivor Recounts December 7, 1941 — Pt 1

  Today I’m posting a story from a sailor who was on the USS St Louis stationed at Pearl Harbor in December 1941. You can hear a brief account of his experience here. Thanks to Bryan Lineberry, teacher at Bellmont High School in Decatur, IN, for inviting me to meet Mr. Garrett. I’ll post a... Continue Reading →

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