Eight Decades Ago: A Deadly Attack on America
Denise Doring VanBuren, President General

As the daughter of a World War II Navy Navigator, it was an astounding honor for me to place a memorial wreath on behalf of the NSDAR at our national WWII Memorial in observance of the 80th anniversary of the horrific surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. As every American should know, the lives of 2,008 sailors, 218 soldiers/airmen, 109 marines and 68 civilians were taken that morning; another 1,178 service members were wounded; and the United States was propelled into the deadliest conflict in human history.

The ceremonies here were a sobering reminder of both the lives and the innocence lost on December 7, 1941. Earlier in the morning, members of the public read aloud the names of the Americans who were killed in the attack during a three-hour vigil to honor them and their sacrifice. We owe it to their memory and to future generations to recall and to learn from this terrifying event that changed the course of humankind.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7:55 a.m. The entire chain of events took just over one hour. The Japanese strike force consisted of 353 aircraft launched from four heavy carriers, and involved two heavy cruisers, 35 submarines, two light cruisers, nine oilers, two battleships and 11 destroyers. It was a massive invasion. Captain Mitsuo Fuchida transmitted the code message “Tora, Tora, Tora” to the Japanese fleet after flying over Oahu to indicate the Americans had been caught by surprise.

In addition to the staggering human casualties, the attack destroyed or damaged 19 U.S. Navy ships, including eight battleships. (Fortunately, three aircraft carriers of the U.S. Pacific Fleet were out to sea and escaped destruction.) Though our nation had tried to stay out of the war as a peace-loving people, the events of that calm, clear Sunday morning eight decades ago changed everything.

Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto wrote in his diary: “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” He was correct, as more than 16 million American men and women would serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, and another 3.5 million would work as federal civilian employees during the war.

I am certain that you have family members who played a role in our Allied Victory. In addition to my father, all six of my uncles enlisted in various branches. An aunt volunteered at the local VA Medical Center, and like all civilians, my family members pitched in through rationing, scrap drives and other support activities. Americans were united as a people in our determination to free the world from tyranny and terror – and that we did.

Our National Society was invited to participate in the December 7 ceremony by the Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the National Park Service, which co-hosted the official Pearl Harbor 80th Anniversary Commemoration at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall here in Washington, D.C. It was especially poignant to do so in the company of more than 20 World War II veterans. As we know, they are disappearing at a fast rate, with slightly more than 200,000 of the 16 million Americans who served still alive. Please make every effort to locate and recognize these men and women in your local community! As that generation passes away, we are losing touch with the lessons learned throughout World War II -- and of the importance of our united resolve as a people. And please make plans to visit the inspiring World War II Memorial, to which our National Society provided $500,000.

We owe it to those who gave their lives and those who served to recognize their brave actions and important achievements. Though it is neither easy nor pleasant to do so, it is critical that we remember these men and women and that we pause to honor these turning points in American history. We must teach our children that with American freedom comes difficult sacrifice and the unwavering commitment of her citizens.

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