Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor Occurred 80 Years Ago Today, December 7, 1941

The U.S.S. Arizona, seen burning after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. 

Today, Tuesday, December 7, 2021, is the 80th anniversary of the day Japanese aircraft bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

 Known in history as "a day that will live infamy," the unprovoked attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor, an American air base near Honolulu, drew the United States into World War II. The bombing by hundreds of Japanese warplanes began at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, killing 2,400 American military personnel and civilians, and injured over 1,000 more. A day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan, a speech best known for his "a day that will live in infamy" quote.

Today as the nation remembers the heroes who died and were injured that fateful day, many U.S. veterans say the 80th anniversary is an example of why America must unite today.

"When we're united as a country, we cannot be defeated," one New York-based veteran, a father of four, told Fox News Digital. "That's my takeaway. What happened after Pearl Harbor shows that when we stand together, we cannot be beat. A lot of young guys enlisted during World War II to be part of the war effort. Many of them were even underage. They wanted to help this country — to help our country. They wanted us to win. There was a feeling of unity toward a common goal."

 To learn more about the attack on Pearl Harbor, you can check out many books and DVDs from members of the Public Libraries of Jefferson County, (JCLC) including the Birmingham Public Library. 

 

BPL & JCLC libraries have lots of books and DVDs about the Pearl Harbor bombing.