Remembering the Attack on Pearl Harbor

On this day in 1941, Imperial Japanese Naval Air forces attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, which left more than 1,100 people wounded and 2,403 people dead. The surprise military attack was a profound shock to the American people and immediately drew the United States into World War II.

Pearl Harbor under attack on December 7, 1941 / National Archives and Records Administration

In his address to Congress the day following the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously called it “the date which will live in infamy.”

Navy dispatch announcing the attack on Pearl Harbor / National Archives and Records Administration

The attack began at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian time with over 300 Japanese planes flying in for a surprise assault on the Hawaiian naval base. Although caught off-guard, many quickly sprung into action determined to defend the base from the onslaught. The attack lasted about 90 minutes, and by its end, nearly 20 vessels were damaged or destroyed and many lives lost.

Gun crews during the attack on December 7, 1941 / National Archives and Records Administration

In honor of the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, let’s take a moment to remember and honor those who fought bravely and lost their lives during the attack.

Do you have a relative who was there during the attack? Share their stories in the comments below. You can also read a few stories about the heroes of Pearl Harbor here and more in the Battle of Pearl Harbor genealogy project on Geni!