![]() He was a was a Navy hospital corpsman 3rd Class at the time. Harry Chandler, 102, recalled raising the flag at a mobile hospital in Aiea Heights in the hills above Pearl Harbor in 1941. The reason? "To pay honor to the guys that didn't make it," he said. And he's returned to Pearl Harbor several times since. He's since been sharing his story with his family, student groups and history buffs. Schab never spoke much about Pearl Harbor until about a decade ago. 7, 2023, at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. flag during the 82nd Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony on Thursday, Dec. An attendee asks Pearl Harbor survivor Ira "Ike" Schab, 103, to sign an U.S. There were about 87,000 military personnel on Oahu at the time of the attack, according to a rough estimate compiled by military historian J. But department data show that of the 16 million who served in World War II, only about 120,000 were alive as of October and an estimated 131 die each day. Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't keep statistics for how many Pearl Harbor survivors are still living. "But now that we are losing that generation and won't have them very much longer, the opportunity shifts to reflect even more so on the sacrifices that were made, the stories that they did share." "We could be the best storytellers in the world and we can't really hold a candle to those that lived it sharing their stories firsthand," Kilton said. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.David Kilton, the National Park Service's interpretation, education and visitor services lead for Pearl Harbor, noted that for many years survivors frequently volunteered to share their experiences with visitors to the historic site. With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph-so help us God. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.Īs commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.Īnd this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island. ![]() Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Yesterday, December 7th, 1941-a date which will live in infamy-the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives: Full Text of FDR's "Day of Infamy" Speech
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