Theodore's World: Remembering Pearl Harbor

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December 07, 2006

Remembering Pearl Harbor





December 7,1941




"A date which will live in infamy."

Honoring our veterans, praying

for the men and women

in Armed Forces currently defending

our freedoms at home and abroad.





On Sunday, December 7th, 1941 the Japanese launched a surprise attack against the U.S. Forces stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii . By planning his attack on a Sunday, the Japanese commander Admiral Nagumo, hoped to catch the entire fleet in port. As luck would have it, the Aircraft Carriers and one of the Battleships were not in port. (The USS Enterprise was returning from Wake Island , where it had just delivered some aircraft. The USS Lexington was ferrying aircraft to Midway, and the USS Saratoga and USS Colorado were undergoing repairs in the United States).

In spite of the latest intelligence reports about the missing aircraft carriers (his most important targets), Admiral Nagumo decided to continue the attack with his force of six carriers and 423 aircraft. At a range of 230 miles north of Oahu, he launched the first wave of a two-wave attack.

Beginning at 0600 hours his first wave consisted of 183 fighters and torpedo bombers which struck at the fleet in Pearl Harbor and the airfields in Hickam, Kaneohe and Ewa. The second strike, launched at 0715 hours, consisted of 167 aircraft, which again struck at the same targets. At 0753 hours the first wave consisting of 40 Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" torpedo bombers, 51 Aichi D3A1 "Val" dive bombers, 50 high altitude bombers and 43 Zeros struck airfields and Pearl Harbor.

Within the next hour, the second wave arrived and continued the attack.

When it was over, the U.S.losses were:

Casualties
USA : 218 KIA, 364 WIA.
USN: 2,008 KIA, 710 WIA.
USMC: 109 KIA, 69 WIA.
Civilians: 68 KIA, 35 WIA.
TOTAL: 2,403 KIA, 1,178 WIA.

Battleships
USS Arizona (BB-39) - total loss when a bomb hit her magazine.
USS Oklahoma (BB-37) - Total loss when she capsized and sunk in the harbor.
USS California (BB-44) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.
USS West Virginia (BB-48) - Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired.
USS Nevada - (BB-36) Beached to prevent sinking. Later repaired.
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) - Light damage.
USS Maryland (BB-46) - Light damage.
USS Tennessee (BB-43) Light damage.
USS Utah (AG-16) - (former battleship used as a target) - Sunk.

Cruisers
USS New Orleans (CA-32) - Light Damage..
USS San Francisco (CA-38) - Light Damage.
USS Detroit (CL-8) - Light Damage.
USS Raleigh (CL-7) - Heavily damaged but repaired.
USS Helena (CL-50) - Light Damage.
USS Honolulu (CL-48) - Light Damage.

Destroyers
USS Downes (DD-375) - Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Cassin - (DD-372) Destroyed. Parts salvaged.
USS Shaw (DD-373) - Very heavy damage.
USS Helm (DD-388) - Light Damage.

Minelayers

USS Ogala (CM-4) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.

Seaplane Tender
USS Curtiss (AV-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired.

Repair Ship
USS Vestal (AR-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired.

Harbor Tug
USS Sotoyomo (YT-9) - Sunk but later raised and repaired.

Aircraft
188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 Army Air Corps.)

Posted by Wild Thing at December 7, 2006 02:47 AM


Comments

Thank you to all our Military over all the years that have kept our Homeland safe and free. We should never ever forget no matter how quickly some within out Great Nation want us to forget.
Those who would beat their swords into plow shears will soon be plowing for those who didn't...We must always be ready and we must never forget.

Posted by: sierrahome at December 7, 2006 07:00 AM


Strange, I do not see any bashing or criticisms directed towards the Japanese, Will you just let them get away with the terrible crimes they have committed in the past? By forgetting the ones responsible for what happened that day? Just like that? Was it because the war ended 61 years ago? And that all the hatred your people have towards Japan has fainted as time passed by? The gravity of this event is far greater than that of September 11, yet, now after a few decades, Japan is a leading partner of the U.S. in almost all aspects in global affairs, if the Japanese has been forgotten so easily, what more the perpetrators of September 11th?

Posted by: Lord Akbar Al Rasheed at December 7, 2006 10:02 AM


Thank you Chrissie, very nice post. I've been in such a funk lately I didn't even post about this event. The single most tragic event that galvanized the American people against a common enemy 66 years ago. The events of 5 years ago were just as traumatic but the difference between then and now are that we have had a couple of generations who haven't had to protect this country and it's freedoms. There has been and ongoing administration of anti-American sentiment led by the Marxists who have taken over the schools, the media, the judiciary and the halls of Congress while others paid the price for them to take over. The followers of Vidkun Quisling are in charge now and they lack the fortitude to defend themselves, an example is the father of Daniel Pearl who blames Americans for what the butchers did to his son, yet he himself will not lift a finger to condemn them. Fortunately there are a few patriotic people left, too few in fact, that still believe in America and the United States, they demonstrate their patriotism every day by their selfless service to protect us and the people of foreign lands from the onslaught of butchery that is sure to follow our fall. We owe them and our forefathers a debt of thanks. Thank you and God bless you all.

Posted by: Jack at December 7, 2006 10:59 AM


So, maybe a few nuclear strikes, on places like Riayadh, Mecca, Bakka Valley, Damascus, Teheran, etc. will make you moslems leading trading partners in 61 years?? No, because the Japanese were already in a state of civilization and had a foot well into the 20th Century.

Moslems are entrenched in the 5th or 6th century, living in squalor, ignorance and superstition that advanced peoples put behind them eons ago. And by the tenets of their islamic cult, and as seen in their actions worldwide, moslems cannot live in harmony with anyone else, or even among their own silly selves.

Posted by: TomR at December 7, 2006 12:11 PM


Sierrahome....

"We must always be ready and we must never forget."

I agree so much, thank you Sierrahome.

Posted by: Wild Thing at December 7, 2006 04:16 PM


Lord Akbar Al Rasheed, besdies being a total idiot Rasheed listen up!

Japan and the death cult of Islam are like comparing apples and oranges. 95% -98% of all the conflicts on this earth are done by the destruction of Islam and it's followers.

You are following the sick and destructive cult that lives in the dark ages, has given nothing positve to the world, is filled with cowards and loosers and preaches hate and death at every turn.


Now go have a nice plate of bacon and put your ass in the air and do your prayers to your moon god. Your opinion is worthless just as your cult is worthless to the entire world.

Posted by: Wild Thing at December 7, 2006 04:20 PM


Jack well said and thank you for the link as well.

Posted by: Wild Thing at December 7, 2006 04:22 PM


Tom, I agree there is no comparison between the two (the Japanese as a enemy and Islam).
Thank you so much.

Posted by: Wild Thing at December 7, 2006 04:23 PM


Lord Whatever:

You can't be serious. Despite the confusion, moral delirium and your ignorance of history, you seem to be saying that the US is capable of healing from one historical fact and not another.

I'll be gentle with you...

Consider first that our war with Islamists is still underway, and the agency which claimed responsibility for the WTC, Al Qaeda, is still an enemy. The Japanese aren't.

Consider second that 61 years is different than 5 years, although not in Muslim Time. How do I know this?

BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL PISSED OFF OVER THE BALFOUR DECLARATION OF 1922, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL ALMOST SIXTY YEARS AGO!

Only a moral idiot like you would overlook the crap in your own worldview.

Posted by: Rhod at December 7, 2006 05:21 PM


Akbar...grow up.

Posted by: sierrahome at December 7, 2006 06:45 PM


Or blow up!

Posted by: TomR at December 7, 2006 06:59 PM


My father-in-law's dad was at Pearl Harbor. One of the survivors. Father-in-law has his medal.

And ack-foo-bar, the US was plenty pissed at the Japs during that time. Ask any American who remotely looked Japanese and spent time in internment camps. And during that period following the end of the war, Pearl Harobr Day was sometimes referred to as Slap A Jap Day. Sounds like people were upset with Japan.

http://www.identitytheory.com/printme/kellerprint.html

And let's not forget that the war in the Pacific ended after the US NUKED Japan. Twice!!!

So clue up next time before you speak.

Posted by: raz0r at December 7, 2006 07:13 PM


And one more for the pile. After nuking Japan and crushing them, the US did not occupy and try to be their friends during that period of occupation. The US put the boot to the throat and let Japan know they had no alternative. There was only one choice - The US's.

That is where I think the US is going wrong in Iraq and the Middle East as a whole. We're trying to be nice and make friends. Screw 'em all. Put the boot to the throat. Lay down the plan. Tell them they have no choice in the matter. They will either come into the modern age, embrace Western democracy and values, or be stifled under the US boot until such time as they agree or cease to exist.

Posted by: raz0r at December 7, 2006 08:17 PM


TomR...your funny!

Posted by: sierrahome at December 7, 2006 08:48 PM


I mean you're funny, but either way

Posted by: sierrahome at December 7, 2006 08:49 PM


raz0r,

what medal does Father-in-law have
and what merit is that?

That's kind of a heartbreaking "award"
Hey, sorry for your suffering and almost dying, here's a medal.

It's like the medal of honor, the highest achieved award in the armed services.
Most who are awarded it are underground.
How honorable is that? To award a deceseased person a shiny medal and pretty ribbon.

Or a purple heart. Here, pin this on your wheelchair bud. Thanks.

There's more in life than a color array on your chest. What does that prove?

Posted by: MattCoops at December 10, 2006 02:46 PM