Pearl Harbor Essay Research Paper On December

While saluting our nations flag at the sound of the Star Spangled Banner Nagumo’s fleet had arrived about 230 miles from Oahu unseen and unsuspected by any American. “The first wave consisted of 189 Japanese planes, six carriers, two battleships, three cruisers, several destroyers and tankers all under the command of Japan’s Vice Admiral Chuichi.”(Gross 71) Japan’s first wave reached their targets just before 8:00a.m. finding their targets in neatly arranged rows. An hour and fifty minutes later, the last Japanese plane of 171 from the second wave had left their carriers heading straight for Pearl Harbor.

The attack on Pearl Harbor lasted 110 minutes and in those 110 minutes the United States had suffered the worst Military disaster of its history. There were eight battleships damaged and five were sunk. “Two thousand four hundred American soldiers and sailors were killed and 1,178 were wounded.”(Linton 15) The Japanese on the other hand lost less than 100 men. The attack was one of the most successful operations in history.

It seems however American military leadership failed completely. Considering what they knew about the Japanese operations, and what they were learning from the Japanese messages, they didn’t pay enough attention to them. They were responsible for the security of the United States and for themselves. They seemed to know that war was about to break out and they didn’t use it to their advantage. Why wouldn’t they expect a surprise attack? If Japan was known for their surprise attacks fifty years before the Pearl Harbor bombing of which they were successful at what would make this one any different? A military man must always realize that the enemy will try to do what will be most surprising and most damaging to them and also their country.