Pearl Harbor Dec. 7th, 1941

[Aristaeus]

Dec. 6

Roosevelt sent a message to Emperor Hirohito calling on Japan to withdraw its troops from Indochina. He said the large military force there created "a reasonable doubt on the part of other nations that this continuing concentration in Indochina is not defensive in its character. . . . the people of the Philippines, of the hundreds of islands of the East Indies, of Malaya, and of Thailand itself are asking themselves whether these forces of Japan are preparing or intending to make attack in one or more of these many directions."

-Churchill suggested the Thais defend themselves if attacked and that British aid would be forthcoming. Roosevelt was advised of Churchill's offer and agreed to supply U.S. assistance as well, but neither agreed on an automatic declaration of war.

-Roosevelt approved research funds for an atomic bomb and a promise of "enormous" resources if the project showed promise.

[Aristaeus]

Dec. 7, 1941

Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor and other U.S. and British territories and possessions in the Pacific, launching the Pacific war. The major force was directed at the Hawaiian naval base in the hope of delivering a devastating knockout blow to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. U.S. carriers----which would play the major role in the forthcoming battles----were not in port because of a fortuitous decision. U.S. losses at Pearl Harbor were staggering, but the American fleet was not destroyed. Four battleships were lost. All told, 92 navy and 96 army planes were destroyed, 2,334 American servicemen were killed, and 1,347 were wounded. The Japanese lost 28 aircraft, 5 midget submarines, and fewer than 100 men. In a note delivered to Hull at 2:15 P.M. E.S.T., the Japanese said, "Obviously it is the intention of the American Government to conspire with Great Britain and other countries to obstruct Japan's efforts toward the establishment of peace through the creation of a new order in East Asia, and especially to preserve Anglo-American rights and interest by keeping Japan and China at war."





From Infamy to History:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/sp...arl2truck.html

[Aristaeus]

U.S.S. Arizona


U.S.S. Arizona Memorial

[The Oracle]

A Story of Survival (Remembering All Who Served)
Robert R. Sellers, Seaman 2/C
U.S.S. Honolulu (CL-48), Dec. 7, 1941

I reported aboard the USS Honolulu April 16th 1941 and was assigned to the 1st Div. That manned and maintained the forward three turrets. They were 6 in.47 caliber guns that were designed for surface action. They were not anti aircraft guns. On the morning of Dec. 7th1941 we were tied up in the navy yard port side to the dock at the first finger pier across from the submarine base with the USS St. Louis tied to our starboard side and I was a mess cook at the time. A mess cook does not cook but sets up the tables for the meals being served and assists the ship cooks at the steam tables. He also cleans up the mess deck afterwards. On this morning we were almost finished with breakfast when people started running aft through the mess hall yelling Japanese planes were bombing us. At that point we heard the explosions and gun fire and at the same moment the general alarm sounded. The word was passed to go to your battle stations, mine was on the shell deck of the #2 turret.

When I arrived at my battle station I put on the sound powered head phones. I was the phone talker and could talk to the turret officer and the turret captain and also to the powder handling room. In the gun chamber where the turret officer was located they had a periscope through the top of the turret and could see what was going on around us so they were passing the word to us about what was going on outside telling us about the battleships being hit and sunk and on fire so that didn’t do much for our nerves. Someone brought the Sunday comic section when they came to General Quarters I tried to look at it. I must have picked it up and set it down at least a dozen times. Finally I gave up. Then we received the word to secure everyone but the phone talker and go to top side and handle the lines for the St. Louis, they had power and were going to get under way. Our engine rooms were down and we were unable to get under way. So I was left alone on the shell deck and then the phone went dead and then I was really alone. I knew there wasn’t any reason for me to even be there but no one gave me permission to leave.

There was a couple lulls from the noise for awhile. I sat down on the deck with my head under the shell tray for what reason I don’t know but all at once there was one big explosion and the ship went up and down. I didn’t think it would ever settle down. I did not know what had happened until later. A 250# armor piercing bomb from a dive bomber that missed the ship by 15 ft. and went through 141/2 inches of concrete of the dock and exploded underneath. There was no one killed but it caused a lot of damage to the hull and magazine handling room was leaking a bit. The bomb hit at frame 40 abreast the #2 turret. We were all very lucky that it wasn’t closer to the ship. I left the shell deck about noon. I never did get permission to leave.

When I got on top side it was a very sickening sight to see all the damage and fires over on battleship row.It is believed that we shot down one plane. During the attack the Honolulu expended 250 rounds of 5 in. ammo. 4500 rounds of fifty caliber and 2800 rounds of 30 caliber. We entered dry dock Dec. 13th to repair the damage and left Pearl Harbor Jan. 2nd convoying some ships back to San Francisco and on Jan.30th 1942 we left San Francisco to escort the first American troops to Australia.

During the war the USS Honolulu earned 9 battle stars in the S. and S. W. Pacific,1 star for Pearl Harbor in the American defense, 1 star Philippine Liberation medal and a Philippine Presidential unit citation and the Navy Unit commendation ribbon. The Honolulu sunk one cruiser ,four destroyers and four planes and bombarded eight different Islands. The Honolulu was torpedoed three times. The first time we lost eighty feet of our bow and we were torpedoed again the first day of the landing at Leyte , P.I. The Honolulu in the first year and a half of World War 11 had developed an interesting reputation. Through some turn of fate, the ships directly astern of her habitually suffered from enemy action. The Northampton, Achilies, Helena and H.M.S. Leander were all either damaged or sunk while steaming in the number two position, by receiving a direct hit. Also a number of firsts can be chalked up on the Blue Goose’s record. She made the first trip to Melbourne after December 7th; was in the first bombardment of Kiska; covered for the first American landings in Alaska; and fought in the first night battle using radar exclusively to control firing. I was aboard from April l941 to March 1946. She was mothballed in Philadelphia, Pa. And put in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet 1947 and was scrapped at Sparrow Point,Md. August 19,l960.

[Edw8ri]

Dialogue from "Casablanca"

Rick: "It's December 1941 in Casablanca, Sam. What time is it in New York?"

Sam: "I don't know, boss. My watch is broke."

Rick: "I bet they're asleep in New York. I bet they're asleep all over America."

And so we were...

May those who served at Pearl Harbor, and especially those who died, never grow dim or distant in our minds and hearts. And that they may not have died in vain, may the awful lesson learned never be forgotten.

[Aristaeus]

Dec. 8 1941

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0PW1Jhu ... re=related

[n11pilot]

Aristaeus, You have done an excellent job with your timeline postings. Thank you for bringing this event in US History back to us in such a creative manner.

[DanielJones]

Yes, thank you Aristaeus. Greatly appreciated!

Watched several specials yesterday and this morning about Pearl Harbor, Kamakazi fighters and the infamous Death Camps in Europe.

Cheers!

Dan

[Cousi]

Let me add my thanks for the day-by-day retelling of the attack on Pearl Harbor. My maternal grandfather came back from a training patrol on the USS Gudgeon the day of the Pearl Harbor attack. He told me about what they saw as they pulled in and this brings that retelling back to life for me.

[Aristaeus]

You are welcome everyone, I am glad everyone liked it.

[DanielJones]

Yes, very much! Thank you again. This is one that should be a sticky me thinks. What say all y'all?

Cheers!

Dan

[n11pilot]

Yes, very much! Thank you again. This is one that should be a sticky me thinks. What say all y'all?

Cheers!

Dan

Agreed! With the current collective American memory being as long as a TEXT message, a timeline like this should be preserved.

[Blackthorn]

Yes, very much! Thank you again. This is one that should be a sticky me thinks. What say all y'all?

Cheers!

Dan

Agreed! With the current collective American memory being as long as a TEXT message, a timeline like this should be preserved.

Definitely!

[DanielJones]

Ok, done!

Cheers!

Dan

[Blackthorn]

I'm only just now seeing this post, JCOM. What a great place to work (Pearl Harbor) for a history buff. Fascinating stuff!