Pearl Harbor Remembrance: Unveiling 10 Untold Stories on 82nd Anniversary of the Devastating Attack
As the world marks the 82nd anniversary of the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, we revisit the solemn events that unfolded on that fateful day. In a mere 75 minutes, the attack claimed the lives of 2,400 individuals, an annual commemoration that is observed with deep reverence for the fallen.
Delving into the historical tapestry of Pearl Harbor, we unveil 10 untold stories that finally come to light:
- Admiral Yamamoto’s Inspiration: Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto found inspiration for the attack in Hector Bywater’s novel “The Great Pacific War” and the successful British assault on the Italian fleet at Taranto, Italy, in 1940.
- USS Arizona’s Tragic Bond: The USS Arizona, a poignant symbol of the tragedy, housed 37 pairs or trios of brothers. In the attack, 23 sets of siblings lost their lives, along with a father and son duo.
- Silenced Music on USS Arizona: Hit four times before sinking, the USS Arizona’s band, US Navy Band Unit (NBU) 22, lost all 21 members who were on deck ready to play for the daily flag-raising ceremony.
- Naval Carnage: Among the 102 ships at Pearl Harbor during the attack, eight were battleships, and seven were sunk, including the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, and USS Utah.
- A Child’s Final Resting Place: The USS Utah’s hull holds the ashes of a 2-year-old girl, brought aboard by a sailor who never had the chance to bury his daughter at sea.
- Radar Misidentification: Inexperience at Opana Point’s radar station misidentified incoming planes from the Japanese fleet as American, contributing to the surprise attack.
- Formalizing Naval Station Pearl Harbor: Despite having exclusive rights to establish a naval base since 1887, the US formalized Naval Station Pearl Harbor in 1940 as a strategic move to deter Japanese expansionism.
- Elvis Presley’s Contribution: Iconic entertainer Elvis Presley played a significant role in funding the Pearl Harbor memorial, raising nearly $65,000 through a benefit concert in 1961.
- Unifying Impact: Contrary to demoralizing the US, the attack on Pearl Harbor served to rally support for America’s entry into World War II.
- Enduring Legacy of the USS Arizona: Even 82 years later, the USS Arizona continues to leak oil, referred to by survivors as the ‘black tears of Arizona.’ An estimated 14,000 to 64,000 gallons have leaked since the attack, and the National Park Service anticipates this leakage to persist for 500 years.
On this anniversary, we honor the memories of those who lost their lives and share these previously untold stories that contribute to the complex narrative of that pivotal moment in history.
