By JIM PURCELL
In a few days, on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2016, there will be a commemoration of a special day that marked American history forever: the attack on Pearl Harbor, on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941.
The surprise attack by the forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy, led by admirals Isoroku Yamamoto and Chuichi Nagumo, against Pearl Harbor, then being commanded by Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, launched the Untied States headlong into World War II (1941-1945).
At the heart of the Japanese task force were six aircraft carriers, which carried 414 aircraft. During the attack, 2,403 U.S. servicemen were killed, while 1,178 servicemen were wounded. Civilian casualties included 68 persons killed and 35 wounded. Among the destruction that Japanese aircraft left on U.S. forces at Pearl: four battleships were sunk, four battleships were damaged, two other ships were sunk, three cruisers were damaged and 188 aircraft were destroyed.
Though the Japanese attack struck a deep blow to the U.S., perhaps it was providence that allowed that none of the Navy's own aircraft carriers happened to be in port that day. While most of the American fleet in the Pacific was savaged in the tactical strike, those carriers remained unscathed and in service.
No comments:
Post a Comment
No profanity, vulgar language, personal attacks, libel or defamation, nudity of any kind or sexual imagery is permitted on this site. The site's management reserves the right to screen all messages for appropriateness through this venue.