A day that will live in infamy...

[B4UTRUST]

At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.

With diplomatic negotiations with Japan breaking down, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his advisers knew that an imminent Japanese attack was probable, but nothing had been done to increase security at the important naval base at Pearl Harbor. It was Sunday morning, and many military personnel had been given passes to attend religious services off base. At 7:02 a.m., two radar operators spotted large groups of aircraft in flight toward the island from the north, but, with a flight of B-17s expected from the United States at the time, they were told to sound no alarm. Thus, the Japanese air assault came as a devastating surprise to the naval base.

Much of the Pacific fleet was rendered useless: Five of eight battleships, three destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged, and more than 200 aircraft were destroyed. A total of 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 were wounded, many while valiantly attempting to repulse the attack. Japan's losses were some 30 planes, five midget submarines, and fewer than 100 men. Fortunately for the United States, all three Pacific fleet carriers were out at sea on training maneuvers. These giant aircraft carriers would have their revenge against Japan six months later at the Battle of Midway, reversing the tide against the previously invincible Japanese navy in a spectacular victory.

The day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress and declared, "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." After a brief and forceful speech, he asked Congress to approve a resolution recognizing the state of war between the United States and Japan. The Senate voted for war against Japan by 82 to 0, and the House of Representatives approved the resolution by a vote of 388 to 1. The sole dissenter was Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana, a devout pacifist who had also cast a dissenting vote against the U.S. entrance into World War I. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war against the United States, and the U.S. government responded in kind.

The American contribution to the successful Allied war effort spanned four long years and cost more than 400,000 American lives.

[frigidmagi]

It was not the end. Or even the beginning of the end. It was however the end of the beginning.

With thanks to Winston Churchill.

God Bless and keep you boys.

[Dark Silver]

a moment of silence in remembrance

[LadyTevar]

On Sunday, 7 December 1941, West Virginia lay moored outboard of Tennessee at berth F-6 with 40 ft (12 m) of water beneath her keel. Shortly before 0800, Japanese planes, flying from a six-carrier task force, commenced a well-planned attack on Pearl Harbor. Several 18 in (460 mm) aerial torpedoes struck the port side of West Virginia.[4] One torpedo hit the steering gear and knocked off the rudder.[4] At least three struck below the armor belt, and one or more struck the armor belt requiring replacement of seven armor plates.[4] One or possibly two torpedoes entered the ship through holes made by the first torpedoes while the ship was listing and exploded on the armored second deck.[4] Recent evidence indicates that at least one of the hits may have come from a midget submarine. Photographic analysis performed by the United States Naval Institute in 1999 may indicate that one Japanese midget submarine managed to enter the harbor and fired a torpedo into West Virginia. The final disposition of this submarine is unknown

Prompt action by Lieutenant Claude V. Ricketts (Claude V. Ricketts later had a ship named after him, the USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5), formerly the USS Biddle), the assistant fire control officer who had some knowledge of damage control techniques, saved the ship from the fate that befell Oklahoma moored ahead. Oklahoma also took several torpedo hits that, in her case, flooded the ship and caused her to capsize.

he ship's commanding officer, Captain Mervyn S. Bennion, arrived on his bridge early in the battle, only to be struck down by a bomb fragment hurled in his direction when a 16 in (410 mm) bomb hit the center gun in Tennessee's Turret II, spraying that ship's superstructure and West Virginia's with fragments. Bennion, hit in the abdomen, crumpled to the deck, mortally wounded, but clung tenaciously to life until just before the ship was abandoned, involved in the conduct of the ship's defense up to the last moment of his life. For his "conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life", Captain Bennion was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
Doris Miller, a mess attendant, helped carry Captain Bennion to a safer place and then manned an antiaircraft gun despite having no previous experience. He was the first African-American recipient of the Navy Cross.

Yet, in 1944, the Rebuilt "WeeVee" was back in action in the Phillipines, laying down naval artillery fire over Leyte Gulf, the Phillipines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and finally taking part in the Formal Surrender of the Japanese -- the only Pearl Harbor survivor to be there.

A Salute to West Virginia, and to her crew that died, the crew that survived, and the crew that saw the war all the way through.

[Steve]

West Virginia also participated in some delicious revenge at the Battle of Surigao Strait, where she and other battleships - including other PH survivors - crossed the T of the Japanese fleet and annihilated their Southern Force during the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf.

[LadyTevar]

West Virginia also participated in some delicious revenge at the Battle of Surigao Strait, where she and other battleships - including other PH survivors - crossed the T of the Japanese fleet and annihilated their Southern Force during the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf.

According to the History, West Virginia had the Japanese Fleet on radar and had a firing solution for a good half-hour before she fired the first salvo at the lead ship. Out of her first 6 salvos, five hit the lead ship dead on. The remaining salvos were aimed at other Japanese ships until called off to allow the Japanese remnants to flee

[Steve]

Yeah. Oldendorf's task force pretty much ambushed the poor bastards.

Of course, up north we had just DEs and jeep carriers to fend off the main striking force of Nihon Kaigun. Kurita actually thought they were our main carriers, though, and not the little CVEs (there were storm squalls coming in and some visibility issues IIRC), but he still pressed hard on them before deciding he must be heading into an American trap, causing him to retreat.