Donald Stratton's Attack On Pearl Harbor
Source 1: During World War Two, America wanted nothing more than to stay neutral. But as fate would have it, something happened that would force America’s hand to join the allies in the war. On what has been known as a “Day of Infamy”, December 7, 1941, the Japanese empire launched a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor was a U.S Navy base located on the island of O’ahu in Hawaii. Although America was neutral in the war, they were still manufacturing and supplying Great Britain to aid them during the war. In addition, America attempted to stop Japan from their military conquests in Asia and the Pacific. Pearl Harbor was the trigger factor that ended all debate of the question that America should remain neutral. The end result would be
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the allies receiving the support needed to win the war. Japan had originally tried to send a Declaration of War to the White House before the assault began. This was because they were trying not to disobey the first article of the Hague Convention of 1907. However, the message was delayed and not received by the White House until during the operation had commenced. As a result, America was caught completely off guard of this devastating attack. During the attack, the Japanese constantly relayed a message to the fleet that U.S were completely caught off guard.
A Japanese Admiral named Isoroku Yamamoto was the one thought up the idea of attacking Pearl Harbor. The individual who actually planned it was a Japanese captain named Minoru Genda. There were two things that had assisted him with coming up with the idea. One was a fictional book and the other was an actual historic occurrence. The book was called “The Great Pacific War”. It was written in 1925, by a British Naval officer named Hector Bywater. The book was about a fictional but realistic event of a clash between the U.S and Japan. It began with Japan decimating The U.S naval fleet and moving on to attack Guam and the Philippines. The historic event that had transpired to inspire Yamamoto was by Britain. On November, 11, 1940, Britain's air force launched an attack on the Italian fleet at the harbor of Taranto, Italy. By studying this successful attack by the British, Yamamoto realized that the conquest in Hector Bywater’s book was possible.
On December 6, 1941, a U.S cryptologist intercepted a Japanese message about ship movements and positions in Pearl Harbor. Ironically, when she reported the message to her superiors, they said they would get back to her that Monday, December 8. However, on the morning of December 7, 1941 a radio operator on O’ahu had picked up a large group of planes heading toward the island. Again, the operator reported it and his superiors did not take any precautions.They just assumed it was a group of U.S. B-17 bombers scheduled to arrive that day.
The attack commenced in the morning at 7:55 AM and lasted about an hour and a half. It consisted of two waves. One was at 7:55 AM and the other was at 8:55 AM. By 1:00 pm the Japanese would have already finished their assault and would be heading home. As a formidable force, the Japanese were made up of 353 aircraft that were deployed from four carriers, 40 torpedo planes, 103 level bombers, and 79 fighters. In addition, two heavy and light cruisers each, nine oilers, 2 battleships, and 11 destroyers.
During the attack on Pearl Harbor, 2,403 U.S. soldiers and 68 civilians were killed. 19 U.S navy ships and 188 planes were either damaged or destroyed. Among the 19 ships, eight were battleships. One of the Japanese main targets were the three U.S. aircraft carriers. Luckily, the aircraft carriers were not in the harbor at the time. They were out to sea on protocol procedures. The Japanese lost 29 aircraft and five mini submarines. The U.S manage to take one Japanese prisoner, but 129 Japanese pilots and seamen died. Only one Japanese ship from the attack lasted the entire duration of the war. It was called the Ushio, and was surrendered to the U.S at Yokosuka Naval Base. A steward aboard the U.S.S West Virginia, named Dorie Miller, proved himself during the attack. Miller gave aid to his injured captain and manned a machine gun to take down two Japanese aircrafts. For his courage and bravery, he was awarded the Navy Cross, The Navy Cross was the most prestigious honor a serviceman could receive. Miller was also the first African American to receive this huge honor.
Out of the 2,403 Navy personnel killed, half of them were aboard the U.S.S Arizona. The Arizona was a battleship built in 1914. It was part of the honor escort that arrived in France with Presidents Woodrow Wilson. During the assault, 1,177 of the crew died. A bomb dropped on the battleship ten minutes after the attack began. The bomb ignited the magazines and the explosion ripped the the ship’s sides open that caused the entire ship to catch fire. Most of those killed were either by the explosion or the sinking of the ship. One man who was lucky enough to survive said that,”I had only been there a short time when a terrible explosion caused the ship to shake violently. I looked at the boat deck and everything seemed aflame forward of the mainmast.”-Marine Corporal E.C. Nightingale. As a result, the entire ship sank to the bottom of the sea. Even till this day, most of the men who died are entombed in a watery grave. Many attempts have been made to salvage the ship. Parts of the ship and some bodies have been recovered, however, most of the wreckage has remained unrecovered. To commemorate the lives that were lost, a memorial has been erected above the wreckage of the ship in 1962. Although, this was a catastrophic event that will forever resonate in the hearts of Americans, the destruction of the Arizona was used a symbol that gave Americans inspiration in World War Two. “Remember Pearl Harbor” became America’s number one war song at the time.
Donald Stratton was aboard the Arizona that tragic morning.
Stratton was one of the five seamen who survived. However, he was not able to come out unharmed. He suffered burns that covered 65 percent of his body. He escaped with a few of his fellow gunnery team by climbing across a 70- foot long rope that stretched 45 feet above flames fueled by oil that sat upon the water. When he found out that 1,177 of his fellow seamen were not as lucky as him, he was emotionally torn. After recovering from the injuries he suffered that day, he went on to fight more battles in the Pacific to help win the …show more content…
war.
On November 26, The Japanese strike force left on route to Hawaii.
Their commander, Vice Admiral Nagumo had his attack force in position 275 miles North of Hawaii on the morning of December, 7, 1941. His commander, Mitsuo Fuchida, led the first wave of aerial attack. At 6:00 AM, the attack force was already up in the air and on their way to Pearl Harbor. The Japanese pilots saw eight battleships, but, they were discouraged that they were unable to find any of the aircraft carriers. Japanese Lieutenant Commander Murata’s Torpedo bombers were launching their torpedoes, while, Lieutenant Commander Itaya’s fighters were engaging the U.S. resistance in the sky. Another Japanese Commander, Mitsuo Fuchida, led his bombers to Barber’s Point. However, when their was no U.S resistance , the Japanese realized their surprise attack was successful. The attack began with the first bomb falling on Wheeler Field, and the bombs that proceeded after were on Hickam Field and bases at Ford Island. Smoke from the bombings was making vision difficult As a result, Murata dropped the torpedos short of battleships that were anchored east of Ford
island.
Meanwhile, Commander Itaya was meeting very little resistance. Four of the U.S. planes that took off were immediately shot down. As Fuchida’s group reached their targets they were met up with U.S. anti aircraft resistance. Fuchida’s plane was damaged, however, it was still able to fly. Due to all the clouds around them, the Japanese commander’s group missed the release point. It took another attempt for them to be successful. Once, they were able to drop off their first load, they started on their second one. The bombers completed all of their runs leaving Pearl Harbor and its airbases in ruins.
When Roosevelt was informed of the attack, he knew that America could not remain neutral in the war anymore. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a deliberate act of war. Roosevelt decided to declare war on Japan the next day. Then, later that day, Winston Churchill informed Roosevelt that Japan attacked British colonies in Southeast Asia. As a result, Britain was going to declare war on Japan as well. When Churchill discovered that America was about to enter the war, he was very happy. He wrote “To have the United States at our side was to me the greatest joy”(Churchill, Winston, 1941). He knew that if America declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy would declare war on the United States. Therefore, America would be helping Britain in their fight against the Nazis. On December 8, 1941, Roosevelt went to congress to ask for a declaration of war. Once he received the approval from congress, he signed the declaration of war As a result, on December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy, who were allied with Japan, declared war on America as well. All of a sudden a country bent on neutrality had joined World War Two.
Grace Tully, who was Roosevelt’s secretary at the time, wrote her personal experience on December 7, 1941. While she was relaxing, Tully received a call that informed her about the Japanese bombing on Pearl Harbor. She was immediately picked up and taken to the White House. All of the information Roosevelt had received was being provided by the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Stark. The presidential secretary’s job was to take all the reports given to her by Admiral Stark and type them up for Roosevelt. At first, everyone present were in disbelief of the reports. However after some time passed, the denial turned into angered acceptance. After about 30-40 minutes, Roosevelt was speaking to the governor of Hawaii, Joseph B. Poindexter. Poindexter confirmed all the reports that were recently received. Suddenly, the governor of Hawaii told Roosevelt that there was another wave of Japanese planes over the Hawaii. Everyone began to wonder what the Japanese were planning to do after the attack. The U.S Navy was damaged significantly.While, the army and airforce were unable to provide protection from any other threats. Later that night, the executive branch met with the congressional leaders from both the Republicans and Democrats.
the allies receiving the support needed to win the war. Japan had originally tried to send a Declaration of War to the White House before the assault began. This was because they were trying not to disobey the first article of the Hague Convention of 1907. However, the message was delayed and not received by the White House until during the operation had commenced. As a result, America was caught completely off guard of this devastating attack. During the attack, the Japanese constantly relayed a message to the fleet that U.S were completely caught off guard.
A Japanese Admiral named Isoroku Yamamoto was the one thought up the idea of attacking Pearl Harbor. The individual who actually planned it was a Japanese captain named Minoru Genda. There were two things that had assisted him with coming up with the idea. One was a fictional book and the other was an actual historic occurrence. The book was called “The Great Pacific War”. It was written in 1925, by a British Naval officer named Hector Bywater. The book was about a fictional but realistic event of a clash between the U.S and Japan. It began with Japan decimating The U.S naval fleet and moving on to attack Guam and the Philippines. The historic event that had transpired to inspire Yamamoto was by Britain. On November, 11, 1940, Britain's air force launched an attack on the Italian fleet at the harbor of Taranto, Italy. By studying this successful attack by the British, Yamamoto realized that the conquest in Hector Bywater’s book was possible.
On December 6, 1941, a U.S cryptologist intercepted a Japanese message about ship movements and positions in Pearl Harbor. Ironically, when she reported the message to her superiors, they said they would get back to her that Monday, December 8. However, on the morning of December 7, 1941 a radio operator on O’ahu had picked up a large group of planes heading toward the island. Again, the operator reported it and his superiors did not take any precautions.They just assumed it was a group of U.S. B-17 bombers scheduled to arrive that day.
The attack commenced in the morning at 7:55 AM and lasted about an hour and a half. It consisted of two waves. One was at 7:55 AM and the other was at 8:55 AM. By 1:00 pm the Japanese would have already finished their assault and would be heading home. As a formidable force, the Japanese were made up of 353 aircraft that were deployed from four carriers, 40 torpedo planes, 103 level bombers, and 79 fighters. In addition, two heavy and light cruisers each, nine oilers, 2 battleships, and 11 destroyers.
During the attack on Pearl Harbor, 2,403 U.S. soldiers and 68 civilians were killed. 19 U.S navy ships and 188 planes were either damaged or destroyed. Among the 19 ships, eight were battleships. One of the Japanese main targets were the three U.S. aircraft carriers. Luckily, the aircraft carriers were not in the harbor at the time. They were out to sea on protocol procedures. The Japanese lost 29 aircraft and five mini submarines. The U.S manage to take one Japanese prisoner, but 129 Japanese pilots and seamen died. Only one Japanese ship from the attack lasted the entire duration of the war. It was called the Ushio, and was surrendered to the U.S at Yokosuka Naval Base. A steward aboard the U.S.S West Virginia, named Dorie Miller, proved himself during the attack. Miller gave aid to his injured captain and manned a machine gun to take down two Japanese aircrafts. For his courage and bravery, he was awarded the Navy Cross, The Navy Cross was the most prestigious honor a serviceman could receive. Miller was also the first African American to receive this huge honor.
Out of the 2,403 Navy personnel killed, half of them were aboard the U.S.S Arizona. The Arizona was a battleship built in 1914. It was part of the honor escort that arrived in France with Presidents Woodrow Wilson. During the assault, 1,177 of the crew died. A bomb dropped on the battleship ten minutes after the attack began. The bomb ignited the magazines and the explosion ripped the the ship’s sides open that caused the entire ship to catch fire. Most of those killed were either by the explosion or the sinking of the ship. One man who was lucky enough to survive said that,”I had only been there a short time when a terrible explosion caused the ship to shake violently. I looked at the boat deck and everything seemed aflame forward of the mainmast.”-Marine Corporal E.C. Nightingale. As a result, the entire ship sank to the bottom of the sea. Even till this day, most of the men who died are entombed in a watery grave. Many attempts have been made to salvage the ship. Parts of the ship and some bodies have been recovered, however, most of the wreckage has remained unrecovered. To commemorate the lives that were lost, a memorial has been erected above the wreckage of the ship in 1962. Although, this was a catastrophic event that will forever resonate in the hearts of Americans, the destruction of the Arizona was used a symbol that gave Americans inspiration in World War Two. “Remember Pearl Harbor” became America’s number one war song at the time.
Donald Stratton was aboard the Arizona that tragic morning.
Stratton was one of the five seamen who survived. However, he was not able to come out unharmed. He suffered burns that covered 65 percent of his body. He escaped with a few of his fellow gunnery team by climbing across a 70- foot long rope that stretched 45 feet above flames fueled by oil that sat upon the water. When he found out that 1,177 of his fellow seamen were not as lucky as him, he was emotionally torn. After recovering from the injuries he suffered that day, he went on to fight more battles in the Pacific to help win the …show more content…
war.
On November 26, The Japanese strike force left on route to Hawaii.
Their commander, Vice Admiral Nagumo had his attack force in position 275 miles North of Hawaii on the morning of December, 7, 1941. His commander, Mitsuo Fuchida, led the first wave of aerial attack. At 6:00 AM, the attack force was already up in the air and on their way to Pearl Harbor. The Japanese pilots saw eight battleships, but, they were discouraged that they were unable to find any of the aircraft carriers. Japanese Lieutenant Commander Murata’s Torpedo bombers were launching their torpedoes, while, Lieutenant Commander Itaya’s fighters were engaging the U.S. resistance in the sky. Another Japanese Commander, Mitsuo Fuchida, led his bombers to Barber’s Point. However, when their was no U.S resistance , the Japanese realized their surprise attack was successful. The attack began with the first bomb falling on Wheeler Field, and the bombs that proceeded after were on Hickam Field and bases at Ford Island. Smoke from the bombings was making vision difficult As a result, Murata dropped the torpedos short of battleships that were anchored east of Ford
island.
Meanwhile, Commander Itaya was meeting very little resistance. Four of the U.S. planes that took off were immediately shot down. As Fuchida’s group reached their targets they were met up with U.S. anti aircraft resistance. Fuchida’s plane was damaged, however, it was still able to fly. Due to all the clouds around them, the Japanese commander’s group missed the release point. It took another attempt for them to be successful. Once, they were able to drop off their first load, they started on their second one. The bombers completed all of their runs leaving Pearl Harbor and its airbases in ruins.
When Roosevelt was informed of the attack, he knew that America could not remain neutral in the war anymore. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a deliberate act of war. Roosevelt decided to declare war on Japan the next day. Then, later that day, Winston Churchill informed Roosevelt that Japan attacked British colonies in Southeast Asia. As a result, Britain was going to declare war on Japan as well. When Churchill discovered that America was about to enter the war, he was very happy. He wrote “To have the United States at our side was to me the greatest joy”(Churchill, Winston, 1941). He knew that if America declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy would declare war on the United States. Therefore, America would be helping Britain in their fight against the Nazis. On December 8, 1941, Roosevelt went to congress to ask for a declaration of war. Once he received the approval from congress, he signed the declaration of war As a result, on December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy, who were allied with Japan, declared war on America as well. All of a sudden a country bent on neutrality had joined World War Two.
Grace Tully, who was Roosevelt’s secretary at the time, wrote her personal experience on December 7, 1941. While she was relaxing, Tully received a call that informed her about the Japanese bombing on Pearl Harbor. She was immediately picked up and taken to the White House. All of the information Roosevelt had received was being provided by the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Stark. The presidential secretary’s job was to take all the reports given to her by Admiral Stark and type them up for Roosevelt. At first, everyone present were in disbelief of the reports. However after some time passed, the denial turned into angered acceptance. After about 30-40 minutes, Roosevelt was speaking to the governor of Hawaii, Joseph B. Poindexter. Poindexter confirmed all the reports that were recently received. Suddenly, the governor of Hawaii told Roosevelt that there was another wave of Japanese planes over the Hawaii. Everyone began to wonder what the Japanese were planning to do after the attack. The U.S Navy was damaged significantly.While, the army and airforce were unable to provide protection from any other threats. Later that night, the executive branch met with the congressional leaders from both the Republicans and Democrats.