What was Pearl Harbor?

Did you know that Pearl Harbor was one of the causes for the U.S join the war? There is one question that many people ask: What was Pearl Harbor? There are the points of what it was, who planned the attack, what happened, What things were left unfinished, and what is it now. There are many more questions about Pearl Harbor, but if this essay covered them all it may become a book. It will also show what people will do for power and fame. Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base. It is located in near Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu. It is close to the middle of the pacific ocean. It is about 2,000 miles from the U.S. mainland and 4,000 miles from Japan. It was a 20,000 acre naval base. (History.com staff, 1) There was a growing tension between the Allied powers and the Axis powers during World War Two. The Japanese wanted to own more land and territory because it needed natural resources, such as oil and aluminum. Then the British sent out a full embargo on Japan. Japan then decides to cripple American flets, because they want them to pay for not supporting them. They start planning as early as January 1941. With the help of Yamamoto, who had studied in the U.S., the attack was planned to destroy Pearl Harbor. This plan was denied several times before ever being approved.

It was eventually approved, because Japan believed it may have been their last shot at a chance in the pacific. Then they set the attack into motion. They planned to attack on a sunday, because they knew americans would be more relaxed. Even enemies are true to their word, because as they said they would attack on a Sunday they did. They even planned the attack to be secret, so they would not be noticed. (Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, 1)Sure enough it was about 7:55 in the morning on Sunday December 7, 1941, the Japanese fleet moved in unnoticed by the Americans. They bombed the base with aircraft and they even used some submarines. They caused a devastating attack. They had a first wave of fighters at 7:55 and a second wave at 8:55. By 9:55 it was all over. ( Attack at Pearl Harbor, 1941 1) The americans did fight back, but it was no match, the Japanese had destroyed much of that base. More than 2,400 american people were killed in that attack. Even more lost a loved one or someone on that base. This does not include the Japanese people that were lost. More than 1,000 people were injured. All eight ships were damaged or sunk. All but two were able to be repaired. The U.S. Arizona and the U.S. Oklahoma were not able to be repaired. There were 188 destroyed planes.This day was a really horrible day in U.S. History. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it a day that will forever live in infamy. (Brett 1)Soon after congress took action. FDR gave his Day of Infamy speech to congress to persuade them to declare war. The people were also taking action. For the first time in years they wanted to go to war. They wanted the Japanese to pay for what they had done to America.

Congress then declared war on Japan and its allies. Pearl Harbor Was one of the leading causes that America joined the war. (Brett 1)Many people left unfinished business in this world when they died. Many had jobs had never been finished by people on that base when the attack took place. People had dreams that never got fulfilled. There was even one person who had a daughter who died and he was going to dump her ashes into the waters of the pacific. Unfortunately he never had the chance and her remains remained in his locker on board the USS Utah. Much of the fuel from the ships leaked into the Pacific where a large amount of oil has been collected in a underground plume, beneath Pearl Harbor. (Landess, 1)Now Pearl Harbor serves still as a military base, but it also serves as a memorial for what happened on December 7, 1941. It is a welcoming place to anyone who was there during the attack to reflect on what had happened. It also serves as a place for families to reflect on their loved one who had been here. If you were someone on the base during the attack you may choose to have the ashes of your body tossed into the waters of the Pacific Ocean at the base. It also serves as a reminder of the fallen and the memories of the horrid day of December 7. (Pearl Harbor Historics, 1) Even though the Japanese were responsible for the attack, many people visit from there to see Pearl Harbor. (Landess, 1)In conclusion Pearl Harbor was a victim of a devastating attack. It was a huge base that did not stand against the Axis powers. It had many losses not just of lives, but of aircraft and ships. It is now rebuilt and running. It still serves as a reminder of what people will do for power. It also still serves as a place of remembrance for the fallen. Wars mainly take place because people want power. This essay shows what people will do for power. They will go to great expense to get power and when they get it they want more. They will go to the bitter end to get something as stupid as fame. Wanting fame is not bad. Wanting riches is not bad. Unfortunately many people would want more when they get what they want. They would go to the extent to killing people to get just a silly thing such as power.

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