Attack on Pearl Harbor World War II Collectible Historical Note
Pearl Harbor, a Pacific Ocean inlet of the island of Oahu, Hawaii, about 6 miles (10 km) west of Honolulu,
is the site of one of the principal naval bases of the US In 1887 Hawaii granted the US the exclusive use
of the harbor as a repair station, and in 1908 a naval station was established. In 1941, the Empire of
Japan formulated plans to conquer Pacific rim islands, but feared that the US Pacific Fleet could
intervene and thwart their plans. So, Japan devised a plan to cripple the Pacific Fleet. Early on the
morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese submarines and carrier-based planes attacked the harbor without w
arning. In a raid lasting less than two hours, four American battleships were sunk, four more were
heavily damaged, and 10 other naval vessels were sunk or badly damaged. Almost 200 American aircraft were
destroyed, and approximately 3000 naval and military personnel were killed or wounded. The next day, US
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, addressed a joint session of the U. Congress concerning December 7, 1941,
which he called "a date that will live in infamy". In asking Congress for a declaration of war, Roosevelt
further said, "No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American
people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory". The Front of the Bill contains this
famous quote by President Roosevelt, as well as a picture of the president. The Back of the Bill pictures
a collage of the carnage the Empire of Japan's attack wrought on the US Pacific Fleet.