Planes of second wave ready for takeoff on carrier Shokaku
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“On the morning of December 7, 1941, that Fleet’s planes bombed all the US military air bases on the island (the biggest was the US Army air base at Hickam Field), and the ships anchored at Pearl, including ‘Battleship Row’. Nearly every plane on the ground was destroyed; only a few fighters got airborne and opposed the attacking planes. Twelve battleships and other ships either were sunk or damaged, 188 aircraft were destroyed, and 2,403 Americans lost their lives. The battleship USS Arizona exploded and sank with a loss of over 1,100 men, nearly half of the American dead.”
The next day, President Roosevelt addressed Congress. [These quotes come directly from the noted speeches as found in Volume Two of the series "This is America My Country", 1952.]
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941- a date which will live in infamy- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
He went on to describe the job at hand:
“As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.”
Roosevelt then rightly predicted,
“Always will our whole nation 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.”
In his December 9th radio address to the Nation President Roosevelt said,
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