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Posted on December 7, 2007 | Category: History
66 years ago today Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by the Japanese. Of course other military installations on the island were also attacked, including Wheeler field and Hickam Air Force Base. The Island of Oahu had then as it still does today a very large percentage military population on the island.
The attack which came from the North side of the island stated at about 7:55am. All 7 of the active battleships were in the harbor, and one was in dry dock. They were all sunk or crippled, however the harbor being as shallow as it was allowed all but two, the Arizona and Oklahoma, were eventually repaired. In all 18 ships were sunk on that day, including the battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and others. Our planes at Wheeler field, Hickam Air Force base, and on Ford Island; which were aligned wing tip to wing tip, to prevent sabotage, were devastated. The attack was of course a preemptive attacked on the part of the Japanese and was completely unprovoked, which brings an interesting comparison to our involvement in the Middle East and that if we were not involved militarily we would still run a high risk being attacked just because of our culture. It is interesting to view the similar comparison between our views of many Arabs today and the Japanese then compared to our their views. We both see each other as inferior, but when we example the who really has the moral high ground you can see we do in principle, but are principles can be prevented. Pearl Harbor proves why we cannot be isolationists in the world, because as much as we try to remain isolated we cannot stay out of world affairs.
Oahu, the only island with a harbor deep enough for large naval ships in all the Hawaiian Islands has a tropical climate with temperatures in the 80 during the summer and 70s during the winter with occasional 60 degree weather. It is still today, as it was then, a main hub for our Pacific fleet. However, at the time of the attack our entire Pacific fleet was there including 8 battleships most famously the USS Arizona which had her magazine exploded.
It is amazing how many warning we had that an attack was coming. The first indication was perhaps in January 1941 when General Joseph Grew overhead the Japanese talking of an attack on Pearl Harbor. Also we intercepted many messaged and decoded them through our decoding machines codenamed “magic” we even intercepted at least one message indicated they were planning an attack on December 7th ,1941 which was disregarded, because it did not specific Hawaii anywhere in the message. It is interesting and quite sad how pride often seems to be a pivotal factor that leads to a downfall. In April 1941 the Army Chief of Staff assured President Roosevelt: “The Island of Oahu, due to its fortification, its garrison, and its physical characteristics, is believed to be the strongest fortress in the world”. This of course led us towards preventing sabotage instead of a direct attack, which we though we were to strong for. Then on Sunday morning December 7, 1941 when many men were at church or sleeping in from band concerts the night before the Japanese struck. They destroyed our fleet, and most of our planes, but what they did not get was our salvage yards.
Today Pearl Harbor still remains polluted from oil leaking out of the Arizona. There are signs warning not to eat the fish that come out of the harbor. Despite the pollution Pearl Harbor remains an active military installation, and there are even annual hydroplane races in the harbor, although Ford Island is not as active a military site anymore, it contains a rich history of our of old military facilities and the Mighty Mo (USS Missouri) docked alongside. Hickam, Schofield barrack, Kaneohe, also remain very active military bases.
As someone who lived on a peninsula in the middle of Pearl Harbor, and even on a street named Loch street, I would be happy to discuss the current state of Pearl Harbor or answer any questions anyone may have concerning the area. So fell free to submit any questions you may have, about the area. Additionally, I will try to dig up some more photographs of the area, as soon as I get a chance.
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