Today on Nov. 26, 1941, a Japanese fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo (1887-1944) set sail from northern Japan under the greatest secrecy for Pearl Harbor 4,000 miles away. Nagumo was under orders to abort the mission if he was discovered or if diplomacy worked an unexpected miracle. The massive fleet included 6 aircraft carriers, 2 battleships, 2 heavy cruisers, 11 destroyers, 35 submarines, 9 oil tankers and 450 airplanes. Its attack 11 days later on the home station of the U.S. Pacific Fleet killed or wounded 3,400 Americans and sunk or badly damaged 8 battleships, 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers and 9 other ships. Disastrous as it was, it could have been worse -- our 3 aircraft carriers were absent and Japanese pilots failed to attack Pearl Harbors ship repair facilities and huge fuel tank farm, vital to our road back to ultimate victory 45 months later. The tremendous gamble paid off with Japans greatest victory of World War II, writes Gordon Prange in his classic 1981 book, At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor. It made its play and cashed in its winnings, but its triumph was only temporary. The Japanese fought the long, agonizing conflict which ensued with all the skill and bravery which were their glory and the senseless brutality which was their bane, but never again would (Emperor) Hirohitos Navy touch the heights of that first attack. For never again would it have the time to exploit fully the national gifts for painstaking craftsmanship, exquisite design, and ceaseless patience. And never again would the Japanese catch Uncle Sam so completely asleep at the switch. https://youtube/watch?v=5E_ytcuMtl8
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 20:59:22 +0000
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