| The 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor December 7, 1991, Honolulu, Hawaii |
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.
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 |
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| The Official 50th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Patch |
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| 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. |
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