The day had been peaceful, with sunshine and a breeze over Pearl Harbor. That would all change at 7:48 am in Hawaii on Sunday, December 7th, 1941. That morning sailors were just waking up and casually eating breakfast, running drill, and so many other different things. Unfortunately, that was not something that they would continue to do.
30 minutes prior, a telegram from the Empire of Japan was sent to the United States and the British Empire declaring war on both nations. There was no time for anyone to prepare, as the President and Prime Minister did not receive this telegram until after the attack had already begun.
Over 350 Japanese naval and air force planes swooped in from out of nowhere and laid an attack that killed over 2400 civilians and military personnel, while destroying various ships and aircraft. This brought the United States into World War II, but what came before was a speech from President Franklin D. Roosevelt titled simply “Day of Infamy.” This speech, shared the day after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, encouraged patriotism and a unified nation against the Empire of Japan.
It has been used in countless movies and been compared to other significant historical events that have shaped and brought this nation together. It is sad that it came from such terrifying events, but sometimes the scariest of events can bring together people in a joint cause. This is truly a day that will live in infamy in the annals of history everywhere in the world.