Pearl Harbor Essay

Picture yourself as a crew member on nonpareil of the naval ships in beadwork Harbor on December 7, 1944 in front comp allowe conclusion began. Its a perfectly calm sunlight e very nonpareils going ab kayoed their own duties in a imperturbable manner. Suddenly in the sky dozens of fighter pilots zoom command everyplacehead. pack members have zero time to react to the imagees as they begin to push aside and drop rapes in the harbor. The initial surprise and confusion of the set on prevents any(prenominal) actions of defense. This effort on driblet Harbor and all the pain and solicitude it caused for the US, will forever be remember as one of uncover and deva come out.In the 1940s struggle erupted in Europe and parts of Asia. The US had initially planned to stay out of the war as wide as they possibly could. the Statess economy was weak from WWI efforts and Americans werent looking to get involved right away (Bachrach, Deborah, 12). Instead the US took a more safe approach by aiding Allied powers in Europe with weapons, ammunition and overall supplies. When US became aware that japan had join Hitler and the Axis powers they immediately ended trade and blocked many of their avocation routes (Encyclopedia WWII, 81-82).While taking action overseas America hushed had no intent of joining the war and encouraged non-violence (Rosenberg, About. com). Even though the US only did what they thought was necessary because of youthful Nipponese actions. The Japanese didnt feel the same way as they did. Aggravated Japanese phalanx officials began a plot to blow the US. It took months for the Japanese to decide on their plan and where they would fervour. Japan and Admiral Yamamoto Isuroku decided on a surprise antiaircraft that consisted of a very organized grovely approach (82-84). Isuroku the man in-charge of preparedness pleaded with Japanese officials for weeks.Convincing them that retaliation was needed. When approved planning began (84). T hey planned to sneak 6 aircraft carriers, 9 destroyers, 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, and 2 submarines across the Pacific. (Bachrach, Deborah Pearl Harbor, 35). Their destination would be Pearl Harbor and they planned to station deep down about 90 minutes of Oahu (pearlharbor. org). Once in position for attack the Japanese Planned to release 3 casts of attacks on the Harbor. Main targets for destruction were the naval aircraft carriers, next were the battleships and airfields (on the twenty-four hour period aircraft carriers were out at sea).The real-time attack would be under the command of Admiral Naguma (Encyclopedia WWII, 86). Even though Japan thought there plan was flawless. They nearly avoided many speed bumps. close to the time of tensions mingled with the US and Japan the US had created a cloistered message interceptor. Which if not terminated would have most-likely prepared the US for the attack. Because of paranoia of war the US terminated the interceptor program. Thes e actions further helping the Japanese keep their attack a secret and undetected (pearlharbor. org). The world-class wave of attacks began at 748 a. . Hawaiian time consisting of 183 aircrafts (all sources).Thirty minutes before attack Japan claims they sent a message stating that peace negotiations were over between the two countries (Rosenberg, about. com/Pearl Harbor). Loses for the US were such(prenominal) worse during the first than routinely because of surprise. Two-thirds of losses came from the first wave. The fighter planes bombed all 8 battleships in the harbor. They in addition blew up all airfields in the area giving the US no air defense for 2nd wave (erikanderson. net/pearlharbor).The USS Arizona was blown up into flames and was sunk other ships were damaged none as mischievousness as the Arizona. Despite complete surprise brave crew members on ships managed to get on guns and take down several planes flying overhead (Encyclopedia, 87). The most destruction to t he ships in the harbor came from the suicide fighter pilots. just about intended for the USS Arizona. The USS Arizona also accounted for more than half of the casualties in some(prenominal) waves because of the 2,000 plus hatful on board (Encyclopedia WWII, 88). The destruction the first wave did was devastating and had the island in threat.After the attack people in Oahu nonetheless didnt understand what exactly had happened (all sources). Many manpower and wo manpower were immediately locomote to the hospital. Of the American fatalities, nearly half of the totals were due to the explosion of the USS Arizona (88). At 800 am Admiral economize W Kimmel sent out an emergency dispatch that the US was under attack by the Japanese (pearlharbor. org). The second wave which didnt come long after the first ended started at 854 am. In an attempt to lame the US naval fleet even more, the Japanese sent clxx more planes toward Oahu (pearlharbor. rg). This attack was sent to finish off whatever was hushed floating in the Harbor. Even though the 2nd wave didnt do nearly as much damage as the first, it still managed to do a surplus amount of extra damage (ph. org). The second wave was divided into three groups. One was tasked to attack Kaneohe, the rest Pearl Harbor proper. The separate sections arrived at the attack point almost at the same time from several directions (Encyclopedia WWII, 90). Despite this low alert status, many American military personnel responded effectively during the battle.The crew members of ships and pilots on land all mark efforts to make a difference during the second wave. They managed to kill sixty men and capture one. Even though the American last toll was much greater the response they made was very impressive while dealing with complete and utter surprise. Ninety minutes after it began, the attack was over (Rosenberg, About. com). The attack was over, but much was loss and damaged and many left hand wounded. After the fact 2,38 6 Americans died and 1,139 left wounded. Also 50 60 civilians were killed from anti-aircraft shells get in populated areas.Eighteen ships were sunk or beached, including five battleships and one blown up (the USS Arizona) (Pearlharbor. org). Battleships damaged the Arizona exploded, Oklahoma was capsized along with 429 people dead, West Virginia was sunk along with 106 dead, California was sunk along with degree centigrade dead, Nevada was beached along with 60 dead, Tennessee was hit by two bombs but remained adrift(predicate)(predicate) along with 5 dead, Maryland hit by 2 bombs remained afloat along with 4 dead, and The Pennsylvania hit by one bomb remained afloat with 9 dead (Bachrach, Pearl harbor, 36-38).Also 178 aircrafts were destroyed in the bombing of the airfields (WWII encyclopedia, 89). Ten twenty-four hour periods after the attack Admiral Husband W. Kimmel was relieved of his duty as Commander of the naval fleet in Oahu. The reason was, because government official s believed that Kimmel didnt take the right actions in preparing for future attacks. He later went to testify against explaining that copious information was not presented to him to make the right calls (90). After all the death and destruction the US agnize that they had many chances to prevent the attack from becoming.For example, Kimmel knew that an attack was evident just not where the attack would be at. Despite his knowledge of that he still let the day be a relaxed Sunday instead of having men station prepared for attack. Also the government and high officials didnt take enough initiative in the fact that they and seriously angered the Japanese with their recent actions (erikandeson. net/pearlharbor). More or less the attack could have been defended or much rather stopped if initiative had been taken at the time.The day was a terrible day in American history and is the biggest death toll on American soil by foreign attack in that time period (Bachrach, Deborah, Pearl Harbo r, 45). As said by Franklin Delanor Roosevelt, a date which will live in infamy the unify States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of Japan. (All sources) Ultimately the attack at Pearl Harbor was one of disaster and unwelcoming surprise. Since the attack there have been only a few events in American history that have cause as much panic and despair.As a matter of fact to this day is known as one of the worse attacks on American soil by a foreign enemy, which pulled an unwilling nation into unwanted war. Even though the Japanese succeeded with their plan at Pearl Harbor, the response from the US was much greater than they expected. Their plans to cripple the US Naval fleet ended the war for them very disturbingly. In all the hate this event caused in the end it pulled America in to do the war and out of the great depression. All the men who lost their lives in this attack died an honorable death. December 7, 1944 is a day will live in infamy.