December 7, 1941 started out like an ordinary day, but at 7:48 AM, a surprise Japanese attack changed the country forever and thrust the United States into World War II.
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Japan intended to prevent the United States from interfering with planned military actions the empire was planning against territories in southeast Asia of the U.S., the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
The plan backfired, as the United States would ultimately achieve over the Empire of Japan at the end of World War II–but at great cost.
353 Japanese fighter plans attacked the base, launched from six aircraft carriers, and the devastation was quick. All eight of the battleships at Pearl Harbor were damaged; four were sunk, the USS Arizona taking the worst damage of all. The other seven battleships were able to be raised, and six went on to fight in the war, but the Arizona remained a watery grave for hundreds of service members. Three cruisers and three destroyers were also damaged, and 188 airplanes were destroyed.
But the worst cost was that of human lives lost; 2,403 Americans were killed, and 1,178 others were wounded.
We lost countless American heroes that day; men and women who showed bravery and selflessness in the face of unimaginable danger and destruction.
Father Aloysius Schmitt was a naval chaplain, just 32 years old, who had just finished celebrating Mass aboard the USS Oklahoma when the Japanese struck. He immediately went to sick bay, giving the last rites to the injured and dying. When the Oklahoma was struck, it began to list and roll over. He found his way to a compartment with a porthole that the sailors could escape through, and immediately began helping the other men through. When they all had escaped, he began to climb through the small space himself, until he realized more men had come into the compartment. He instructed the sailors who had already escaped to push him back through so he could help more men escape; when they protested, saying he would surely die, he replied, “Please let go of me, and may God bless you all.”
Father Aloysius Schmitt died that day, but not before saving the lives of at least 12 men.
Frank Flaherty was also serving aboard the Oklahoma when the Japanese bombed the ship, and it began to capsize. The order was given to abandon ship, but Ensign Flaherty refused. He instead remained at his post, on one of the ship’s turrets, waving a flashlight to illuminate the way for the rest of the crew to escape.
Frank Flaherty lost his life that day, and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
William Turner was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions. He was stationed at Ewa Marine Corps Air Station, and when he realized what was happening, he and another Marine, Master Sergeant Peters, jumped into the cockpit of an airplane, using rear machine guns to fire on the Japanese. Private Turner was wounded, but he refused to stop fighting, and shot down a Japanese plane.
He succumbed to his injuries and died of the wounds he received that day.
There are countless more acts of valor and courage that day, and we lost some of the best of that generation, not only in the immediate attack at Pearl Harbor, but also in World War II. It was the attack on Pearl Harbor that pushed the United States to join the war, and suffered over one million casualties… and all because of the day that, as President Roosevelt put it, would forever live in infamy.
Today, the number of Pearl Harbor survivors is dwindling. Only 9 survivors of the USS Arizona are left, and this year will be the last year that they will make the trip of Oahu for an official gathering. As they leave this life, the duty falls to us to honor their memories and sacrifices.
We must be sure to always remember Pearl Harbor.