As we began to see last week, America was not totally neutral in World War II...even though Congress was passing several Neutrality Acts!
Of course, we can all point to the single event that completely brought us into the war-the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
For this week's blog, please read each of the following eyewitness accounts of this day:
1) American View
2) Japanese View
3) White House View
4) Watch this newsreel from the 1940s with footage from Pearl Harbor
For the comment section, write 200 words on this event. Be sure to include information from both an American AND Japanese perspective.
December 17, 1941 at 7:53 the attacks started. Another one hit at 8:55 and by 9:55 it was all over. After the attacks there were 2,403 left dead, 188 destroyed planes and 8 destroyed battle ships. Around 3 hours later Japanese planes began an attack in the Philippines. They also hit Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand.
ReplyDeleteMitsuo Fuchida explains what was going on and what he saw during the attack. The attack first started with the first bomb falling on Wheeler Field, with more bomb attacks on Hickman Field. He explains what happened while he was hurt laying there. He saw the bombs plumit for the earth.
The attack reached President Roosevelt as he was having his oval study on a Sunday afternoon. Grace Tully was a secretary to President Roosevelt and explains what he went through. He said he was resting on a Sunday Afternoon when he received a call. The call was from Louise Hacmeister, and he said, “The
resident wants you right away. There’s a car on the way to pick you up. The japs just bombed Pearl Harbor” Within 20 minutes he was at the White house with other police men and extra Secret Service men. As he was there with many other important men, he started taking calls. He transcribed each note and he says, “the news was shattering. I hope I shall never again experience the anguish and near hysteria of that afternoon.” He explains the agony that filled the room each call he got. He wrote like the Japs planes never stopped. They just kept on coming. (264)
December 7,1941 the surprise attack of Pearl Harbor happened. The attack happened at 2 different time trials. The first hit at 7:53 A.M. and the second at 8:55. The Japanese killed 2403, 188 destroyed planes and 8 damaged or destroyed ships. The U.S. had no idea that this was coming. Few hours later japan began a day long attack on American facilities in the philippines. Many people at Pearl Harbor was going on with thief day eating breakfast and many still sleep having no idea what was about to happen. Everyone was sounded by a alarm going off then seconds later a big boom from a bomb hitting near them. The Japanese group left for attack November 26 going towards Pearl Harbor. Ship Commander, Vice Admiral Nagumo, received his last orders on December 1 and on the morning of December 7 the attack group was in position 275 miles north of Hawaii. At 6:00 AM the first group of the air attack making up of fighter aircraft, torpedo bombers, high-level bombers and dive-bombers were ready to attack. Japan waited for the perfect time and the skies was clear so they could have a good shot. The U.S. had no idea what was coming. The U.S. responded with war ready to fight. (Word Count:219)
ReplyDeleteThe United States was not expecting to get bombed by Japan. The people at Pearl Harbor were sleeping or just getting up. The army men were awoken by the sirens going off or the boom going off by the bombs being dropped. They tried to defend themselves during the whole bombing and hide but many died. 2,403 died, 188 planes were destroyed and a crippled Pacific Fleet that included 8 damaged or destroyed battleships. The United States was taken by storm during all this. The date that this all happened was on December 7, 1941 was the attack on Pearl Harbor will always be remembered. Japan was the reason for all the chaos that happened on that dreadful day causing destruction. They planned this whole scheme a few months and put it into plan and even traveled a few days to put their plan into action. On the morning of December 7 they thought would be the perfect day and time to put their plan into action by attacking the Pearl Harbor. At six in the morning they had their first group of attackers who started the whole nightmare on that dreadful day. When the skies were clear that’s when they choose to start the mess. This made the United States made and caused them to go to war. (220)
ReplyDeleteThe Japs were really stupid but smart at the same time. They surprised us by blowing up Pearl Harbor, and then we turned around and surprised them by blowing up Haroshima and Nakisaki. A man for the U.S was running around trying to get to his position and also trying to find a leader to get orders for what to do. He ran, swam and saved pretty much all you could do by getting surprised with bombs. A man for the Japs was leader in the skies that lead the bombers, torpedos and shooters into the attack. They had a main target on the USS Arizona for water bombs. It was really intense to be up there because he had to get it exactly were he wanted it to be from 3000 meters above. He missed but his buddy came in a few moments behind him and got it exactly right. This day was a total tragedy for America and a success for Japanese. The next day, President Roosevelt demanded Congress for war against Japanese, and in about four years in June they will be sorry. Roosevelt said, “On December 7, 1941 will be a day that will live in infamy...” He is and was right about that. I thought it was cool that they had a legit video from this time period. What they showed was unimaginable. The planes, the boats, the warehouses were all destroyed and unable to be fixed.
ReplyDelete(243)
American view:
ReplyDeleteOn December 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Japan caused the deaths of 2,403 people. Japan also caused the destruction of 188 planes. There were two attacks the first occurred at 7:53 a.m. and the second one occurred at 8:55 a.m. It was all over at 9:55. At about 1:00 the Japanese had flown back to Japan.
Japanese View:
On November 26, 1941 the Japanese left from Japan on the way to Pearl Harbor. On December 1 Vice Admiral Nagumo the fleet commander had received his final orders. At 6:00 a.m the first elements of the attack were in position and the Japanese were preparing. The commander Mitsuo Fuchida lead the first air attack.
White House View:
The White House response to Japans attack is very interesting. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had received the word while sitting in his Oval Office on Sunday afternoon that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. The next morning which was Monday Franklin D. Roosevelt had signed the Declaration of War that was granted by Congress. The day after Germany and Italy partnering with Japan in the Tripartite Pact had declared War on The United States. Roosevelt’s secretary Grace Tully had also received the call that Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor. (209 words)
Pearl Harbor
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to America on Sunday morning in 1941 is a time of change and mourning. Some people think Pearl Harbor should have never happened but others beg to differ. I beg to differ. Pearl Harbor was dreadful, and America needed it. It was a wake up call. America had been “asleep” due to the Great Depression and were begging for help. The “sleeping giant” awoke that day. Japan saw it as a victory and so did America. Factories became alive again, women put their foot in the door for rights,the men became one, and racial tension began to diminish. America was alive again.
The Japanese were thrilled with their success. “The effectiveness of our attack was now certain, and a message, 'Surprise attack successful!”. The attack also brought fear and stress. While the Japanese were nearing their aim they were being fired at by our troops. They had to fly their planes amongst the clouds and the gray puffs.
However the Americans were skeptical of the radar, but they mistakenly ignored it. It was dreadful. Many lives were stolen and many bodies wounded. It pushed them to make a new name for itself. Because of Pearl Harbor, America became the America it is today. (208)
On December 7, 1941 a big surprise happened. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. There were 2 planes that attacked and they both came in two waves, The first plane hit its target at 7:53 am, and the second plane hit at 8:55 am. 2,403 people ended up dead, 188 planes were destroyed and and a crippled Pacific Fleet that destroyed 8 battleships. America was basically known as the sleeping giant. The Americans were not expecting to be attacked or bombed at all. But after being attacked, the Americans came together and they were ready to fight and ready to go to war. Many and many families were hurled, affected and mourning their losses while the Japanese were still attacking. The Japanese were the ones to blame for all of this destruction. So many americans came together and helped out. Many men were eating breakfast when the Japanese started to attacked Pearl Harbor. The Japanese attack fleet left their home waters on November 26 starting their trip towards Pearl Harbor. Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Nagumo, received his final orders on December 1. On the morning of December 7, the battle group was in position about 275 miles north of Hawaii. (202 words)
ReplyDeletePearl Harbor is one of the most horrific events our country has ever faced. On December 7, 1941 a surprise attacked was declared on Pearl Harbor that killed 2403 Americans and injured 1178. America was in complete shock after hearing what happened. The attack actually gave us the push we needed to come together as a nation show the world we wouldn’t be pushed around.
ReplyDeleteJapan’s Standpoint: Commander Mitsuo Fuchida was the Japanese leader that lead the attack on Pearl Harbor. He actually wrote his view on the war in 1951. He made the attack sound like a day of judgement or justice. His perspective from the cockpit was sickening. When he described what he saw he didn’t mention anything about the innocent people he was killing. He only saw it as a mission.
America’s Standpoint: Marine Corporal E.C. Nightingale have a very interesting view on what it was like to be aboard one of the battleships while being attacked. This man was very heroic and brave. He saved multiple men and helped keep everyone calm in a critical situation. The story he told compared to Mitsuo was complete night and day. Nightingale showed us that perseverance helped keep many people alive that day. These men all were scarred that day from watching their own men be burned or just die right in front of them and there was nothing they could do. I can’t tell what’s worse what we did the Japanese or what they did to our soldiers on December 7, 1941.
(255)
America was shocked and attacked on December 7, 1941. America had an opportunity to help the situation but ignored the radar which showed planes nearby. The Americans didn’t realize the severity of the situation until they started getting bombed. Japan was successful at the surprise attack. America had no idea what was coming. The Japanese had ugly intentions but ended up helping us in the end. Of course, no one deserves to die or suffer from a bombing like this but it did help America come out of the depression that brought the country down. Japan had been planning the attack for a while. They waited for the skies to be clear so they had a clean view of the target. The bombing destroyed the naval base. The White House took the lemons that were handed to the U.S. and made lemonade. They started production of weapons and bombs to prepare for war with Japan. It gave many people jobs and allowed women to work. Women became big help in factories during war. All of this unified the country and helped us gain ambition and determination. The attack of Pearl Harbor was devastating and killed many people, but overall, it was a learning experience for America. Now they know not to take signs lightly. (214)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, before this class I didn’t know much about the Pearl Harbor attack; I knew the basic which is that the Japanese had attacked Oahu Island in Hawaii. But I didn't know why or how. This three eyewitness account have made me understand the cause of the attack on both the Japanese and American point of views. So, on December 7,1941 Japan surprised attacked Hawaii. The Japanese hit the U.S twice within an hour. The first hit was at 7:53 am and the second was at 8:55 am. The Japanese successful killed 2403, destroyed 188 planes, and destroyed 8 ships. Americans didn’t realize how bad of an attack this was until the second hit, even thought this was devastating it helped America get back in the game. During this time America was called the “sleeping giant” because it was on its own little world not paying any attention to what was happening around them. Even though Japan thought they had won the game, America came back and beat them 3x worse. America’s attack was not only better but stronger and riskier. All this wasn’t about who killed more and who did it better, it all leads back to greediness I know this because to start with the Japanese wanted attack America so they could conquer. They were not totally successful, now the U.S wanted to get back at what the Japanese had done so they created something out of this world the ATOMIC BOMB, which sadly killed many innocent people. Both counties killed people that were innocent and its devastating. The basis of this is Sin. {Word Count: 275}
ReplyDeleteThe attack planes came to Pearl Harbor in two waves. This resulted in 2,403 people dead. Later that day the Japanese continue to pursue attacks on American facilities in other places. The japanese were very prideful on the way that they approached their attack. They were very happy that their “surprise” attack tactic worked out very well. The Japanese however did not have it as easy as it may have been portrayed. The people dropping the bombs still had to worry about the fact that their planes were being shot at. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt presented the idea of attacking Japan. Later President Roosevelt signed the declaration of war that congress had approved. Most of the information during this time was coming through to the Whitehouse by the telephone. The article on America’s view stated that the Americans handled it with good control and calmness. However, it must have been very scarring to see your Lieutenant laying on the ground bleeding out. Dealing with bombs landing all around you is a very brave thing to do and a very sad thing that we had to deal with. Winston Churchill had good communication with President Roosevelt to let him know that Britain would be taking action. (209)
ReplyDeleteFirst Post: Tillman
ReplyDeleteBest Post: Sam
On December 7, 1941 the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the US Naval Base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, using bombers, torpedo bombers and midget submarines. On December 8, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his “Infamy Speech” to American citizens, informing them that this occurred despite the fact that the US was in the midst of talks to keep peace with Japan. That same day, with congressional approval, America entered into World War II.
ReplyDeleteJapanese attack fleet left its home waters on November 26 steaming a circuitous route towards Pearl Harbor. Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Nagumo, received his final orders on December 1 and on the morning of December 7 the battle group was in position 275 miles north of Hawaii. At 6:00 AM the first elements of the air attack consisting of fighter aircraft, torpedeo bombers, high-level bombers and dive-bombers were aloft and assembling in the pre-dawn gloom. (206)