The number varies depending on the source but that’s roughly how many souls we lost 69 years ago today in the surprise attack on Peal Harbor. The National Park Service, which maintains the USS Arizona memorial, has a complete listing of names (they put the total at 2,388) on its site. Remember the event that is a key part of our history, scroll through the names of the kids that gave it all defending against the unthinkable for if they had not fought so valiantly Yamamoto would have certainly sent a third wave of bombers after the fuel storage facilities and dry docks that he missed in the first two. History tells us one of the factors that made him cancel the third run on Pearl was the increasing effect of our anti-aircraft gunners during the second attack. Ready and pissed, the boys hit their mark on the aircraft as they dove on their targets. The loss of lives, ships, and aircraft was devastating but the strategic capabilities of the Pacific Fleet base remained largely intact. The planned third attack on the infrastructure would have crippled PACFLT far worse and likely extended the war in the Pacific by a couple of years.
Rest in peace, boys. Today is yours and as pitiful as it may sound, thankyou all.
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I salute you as a former Officer (and still a ) Gentleman & friend of mine. Thank you for your recognition of our fallen and those who survived this horrible day in the history of our United States of America 69 years ago……BG>
Well said, Steve.
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