Attack on Pearl Harbor

As most Americans know, on 7 December 1941 the Japanese launched a surprise attack on US Forces in and around Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. It was just before 8:00am on Sunday morning when many sailors were still in their bunks. The attack killed 2,403 Americans and 1,178 others were injured. Four US battleships were sunk and four others were damaged. Three cruisers, three destroyers and one mine layer were also damaged. The attack destroyed 188 US aircraft and damaged 159. It was the most devastating attack on American soil in history up to that time. Fortunately, our carrier fleet was at sea. The attack thrust America onto World War II. This poem attempts to describe part of what happened that day.

“A Day That Will Live in Infamy”

Early Sunday morning, before ships’ chores were done,
There came a dire attack from the Land of the Rising Sun.
Three hundred-sixty aircraft, attacking in two waves,
Sent twenty-four hundred warriors to their sodden graves.

“Air raid, Pearl Harbor,” came the clarion call.
“This is no drill,” the first alert, “General Quarters all!”
The attackers dove on Hickam Field and on Battleship Row.
Four battleships and nine score planes were tallied by the foe
But six battleships survived, two raised from the brine,
And after some repair, they would steam again just fine.

Repair shops and oil tanks were, mysticly, passed by.
Before too long the ships were fixed and planes were fit to fly,
And our stalwart carriers were not at Pearl that day.
Six months later they weighed in at the Battle of Midway.

We withstood that ill attack of December seven,
With sacrifice of those on earth and, I guess, help of Heaven.
We came back from fortune dire and from tragedy.
We came back, stronger still, from that “day of infamy.”

Now, one of those great battleships still in Pearl stands,
Crusted with barnacles and sifting Pearl’s sands.
The Arizona proud today defies those that baneful tried
To destroy America and to honor those that died.

Source of attack statistics in the introduction: Wikipedia, “National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day” and “Attack on Pearl Harbor.”
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