| The 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor December 7, 1991 |
The 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor
represents the last major commemoration of a
watershed day in world history. A Day ay when
the United States was plunged into World War II,
after having sat on the sidelines for too long, by
virtue of Japan's surprise attack on Hawaii and
their drive to dominate the Pacific Region and Asia;
A day when the United States had to abandon
Splendid Isolation and plunge into international
affairs with both feet; A Day when a sleeping giant
was aroused as never before to avenge an attack
which killed almost 3,000 Americans and destroyed
much of the American military capability in the
Pacific.
The attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the most
audacious and successful military operations in
history. Highly disciplined, totally committed and of
immense skill, the Japanese Imperial Navy in 1941
was the best equipped and most forward thinking
in the world.
In proving their worth, they moved undetected
across the vast Pacific Ocean and delivered a
massive blow to United States material assets and,
more importantly, to their pride. Many
Americans had no idea where Pearl Harbor was
when the news hit, but within weeks millions had
enlisted to fight as the country geared up for
total war on a massive scale. This effort produced
an industrial and manpower mobilization unlike any
in world history.
As part of the 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor,
the Arizona Memorial Foundation arranged a 7-day
symposium with authors, historians, Veterans from
both sides and a host of other participants in that
Day of Infamy.
I went to the 50th Anniversary to honor my Uncle,
Paul Harvey (see below) and all the men from my
family who sacrificed so much for my freedom
during that difficult time in history. Paul was on the
U.S.S. Tangiers, moored next to Ford Island
opposite Battleship Row (map below right).
Not only did we get to tour all the military sites
that were bombed that morning, but all the
participants were able to talk with and hear
speeches from a host of great historians, military
and civilians who participated in that Day of
Infamy, Japanese pilots who flew bombing
missions, an engineer who helped develop the
low-running torpedo and many others.
represents the last major commemoration of a
watershed day in world history. A Day ay when
the United States was plunged into World War II,
after having sat on the sidelines for too long, by
virtue of Japan's surprise attack on Hawaii and
their drive to dominate the Pacific Region and Asia;
A day when the United States had to abandon
Splendid Isolation and plunge into international
affairs with both feet; A Day when a sleeping giant
was aroused as never before to avenge an attack
which killed almost 3,000 Americans and destroyed
much of the American military capability in the
Pacific.
The attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the most
audacious and successful military operations in
history. Highly disciplined, totally committed and of
immense skill, the Japanese Imperial Navy in 1941
was the best equipped and most forward thinking
in the world.
In proving their worth, they moved undetected
across the vast Pacific Ocean and delivered a
massive blow to United States material assets and,
more importantly, to their pride. Many
Americans had no idea where Pearl Harbor was
when the news hit, but within weeks millions had
enlisted to fight as the country geared up for
total war on a massive scale. This effort produced
an industrial and manpower mobilization unlike any
in world history.
As part of the 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor,
the Arizona Memorial Foundation arranged a 7-day
symposium with authors, historians, Veterans from
both sides and a host of other participants in that
Day of Infamy.
I went to the 50th Anniversary to honor my Uncle,
Paul Harvey (see below) and all the men from my
family who sacrificed so much for my freedom
during that difficult time in history. Paul was on the
U.S.S. Tangiers, moored next to Ford Island
opposite Battleship Row (map below right).
Not only did we get to tour all the military sites
that were bombed that morning, but all the
participants were able to talk with and hear
speeches from a host of great historians, military
and civilians who participated in that Day of
Infamy, Japanese pilots who flew bombing
missions, an engineer who helped develop the
low-running torpedo and many others.
| The Arizona Memorial, with the American flag flying proudly, at the 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor |
| The Submarine Memorial, where each stone represents a lost submarine during World War II |
| The names of those killed aboard the U.S.S. Arizona on December 7, 1941. A single bomb exploded in the powder magazine and destroyed the ship in a single blast |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The Official 50th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Patch |
| | | | | | | | | | |
 | |  | |  | |  |
|
|
| Uncle Paul Harvey Pearl Harbor Survivor, USS Tangiers |
| The Arizona Memorial with the American flag waving proudly. |
| A single drop of oil bubbles up from the USS Arizona every few minutes from tanks. |
|
