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Sarah Beddingfield

Ms. Caruso

English 1102

February 13th

, 2012

Pearl Harbor: Inside the Infamous Attack

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy stated President

Roosevelt about the attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States were shaken with surprise when

news hit about the Japanese bombing American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu,

Hawaii. An attack which lasted just about 2 hours did the most catastrophic damage it could have

done.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack conducted by the Japanese Military. The

attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering

with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas

territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. This attack was the

causing lead in the United States entering World War II. The United States entering World War

II and declaring war on Japan was the catalyst in Japans allies, Germany and Italy, declaring

war on the US. In retaliation the US did the same.

More than 2,000 US Soldiers were killed and more than 1,000 were wounded. Battleships

were torn to pieces but 6 out of the 8 were taken, rebuilt, and sent back into service. The

infamous ship, the USS Arizona still lies were it sunk that day and there is now a memorial and

way for people to go tour and see the battleship as it lies about the bottom of the ocean.

Comment [A1]: Reviewed by: Aaron Crumbley

No questions from writer.

Comment [A2]: Connect this with the other

paragraph about the USS Arizona so the same

information isnt spread out throughout your paper.

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The Japanese attack came in two fleets. The first attack came with 183 planes that were

launched north of Oahu. These planes were detected by a fairly new US Army radar and a tip

was sent but being that it was new the tip was not taken seriously so the surprise attack would

still be a surprise to the men in Pearl Harbor. The first attack began at 7:48 AM. Men abroad the

ships awoke to bombing and alarm noises going crazy. As the men were much unprepared for

the attack things like planes were not ready for flight, ammunition lockers were locked, machine

guns on deck were unmanned and not loaded, and most of all these men were not fully prepared

for a battle they had no idea about. As the second wave came in it was split into three sections

and each came almost simultaneously but from different directions. And even though it was a

long fight it seemed to stop suddenly, just as it had started that way too. It is said that the

Japanese considered a possible third wave but for unknown reasons decided against at the last

minute. It is hard to imagine if this third wave had gone on what more would have happened and

if the outcome of it all would have been the same.

The USS Arizona is the one of the two ships that were not taken to be rebuilt and put

back into service. The ship, USS Arizona, is said to have caused more than half of the casualties

because of the explosion. The Oklahoma was also not returned to service due to the fact that it

was lost when it was being towed into to be rebuilt. The three cruisers, Helena, Raleigh, and

Honolulu, were all returned to service shortly after the attack; along with three destroyers and

auxiliaries. It is said that by 1944 all the ships and others were rebuilt and put back into service.

In the wake of the attack, 15 Medals of Honor, 51 Navy Crosses, 53 Silver Stars, four

Navy and Marine Corps Medals, one Distinguished Flying Cross, four Distinguished Service

Crosses, one Distinguished Service Medal, and three Bronze Stars were awarded to the

American servicemen who distinguished themselves in combat at Pearl Harbor. Additionally, a

Comment [A3]: Paragraph starts off kind of fast,

without introduction to the idea, maybe start it off a

little slower.

Comment [A4]: Ms. Caruso might wantsomething of this nature in the endnotes but not

100% sure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Medal_of_Honorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_Crosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_and_Marine_Corps_Medalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Cross_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Cross_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Medal_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Starhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Starhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Starhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Medal_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Cross_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Cross_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Cross_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_and_Marine_Corps_Medalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_Crosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Medal_of_Honor

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special military award, the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal, was later authorized for all

military veterans of the attack (Pearl Harbor par. 5)

Today, the USS Arizona Memorial on the island of Oahu honors the lives lost on the day

of the attack. Visitors to the memorial reach it via boats from the naval base at Pearl Harbor. It

commemorates "initial defeat and ultimate victory" of all lives lost on December 7, 1941.

Although December 7 is known as Pearl Harbor Day, it is not considered a federal holiday in the

United States. The nation does however, continue to pay respect by remembering the thousands

injured and killed when attacked by the Japanese in 1941. Schools and other establishments

across the country respectfully lower the American flag to half-staff.

Comment [A5]: Move paragraph to match up

with others talking about USS Arizona.

Comment [A6]: Some of the information repeats

itself, the only thing I can see is to focus more on

the day overall and its impact on America. The

introduction sets the tone for what the paper is

talking about so it is good. Provide a strong

argument but maybe put a few more facts or

citations throughout the paper. Also the way your

transitioning between paragraphs is good, I just

think when talking about certain information you

should keep it close together throughout the paper.

Paper has the makings of a good one and is very

interesting, my final words are just add a few more

facts through the paper and it will strengthen your

paper.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_United_States_militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor_Commemorative_Medalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor_Commemorative_Medalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_United_States_military