Today (Tuesday, December 7) is Pearl Harbor Day.
On December 7, 1941 at approximately 8:00 AM the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in O'ahu, Hawaii, which was a territory of the United States. The attack came without warning. The next day the United States declared war on Japan.
On August 6, 1945 the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and demanded that Japan surrender. When those demands fell on deaf ears, on August 9 the United States dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki. This time the Emperor paid attention. Japan signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on September 6, 1945.
World War II was four years of misery, finally brought to a successful conclusion for the Allies. This war was not an easy victory, nor was it a particularly spectacular victory. Winning was a near thing for the Allies. I think that the people of the United States are tending to forget WWII and what happened, and what could have happened. I don't believe for a minute that Japan has ever forgotten, or will ever forget.
You can read the entire post here as you like.
I was in Hawaii for the 60th anniversary (2001) and they said then it would be the last time the survivors got together. Now it looks like there will be, truly, one last reunion next year for those who survive 2011 and can make the trip.
They used to have a Pearl Harbor survivor on hand every day for years at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, but obviously time is going to take that away fairly soon, if it hasn't already. They were so generous with their time when I talked to them. Great men.
President Roosevelt's chilling word's seem resound just a well today as they did then...
"Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God."
God bless those who paid a cost we could never dream of.
Hulu has a documentary called Hiroshima 24 hours later. Interviews with survivors and interesting footage of the aftermath of the bombs as a special if anyone is feeling particularly vindictive after the Pearl Harbor footage.