President franklin roosevelt called december 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy." the vulnerable united states base at pearl harbor was not on a state of high alert, a junior officer disregarding the report of the approaching japanese air attack detected at oahu's northern shore radar station. the bombing caused massive explosions killing over 2,300 americans and completely the american battleship u.s.s. arizona and capsized the u.s.s. oklahoma. the attack sank or beached a total of twelve ships and nine others. the attack took the country surprise, especially the pearl harbor base. a dispatch from the ranking united states naval officer in pearl harbor, known as the commander in chief pacific, to all major navy commands and fleet units provided the first official word of the attack. it said simply: "air raid on pearl harbor x this is not " radio stations receiving the news interrupted regular broadcasts to announce the tragic news. most people knew what the attack meant for the u.s. even before roosevelt's official announcement the next day. the americans believed a japanese was imminent. the u.s. was already close to joining the war, but it had only to sending war supplies loan to the allied forces. within days, the united states was brought into world war ii. attack – by– committed – damaged–destroyed– drill – hurried – ill-prepared – naval – on

President Franklin Roosevelt called December 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy." The vulnerable United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor was not on a state of high alert, a junior officer disregarding the report of the approaching Japanese air attack detected at Oahu's northern shore radar station. The bombing caused massive explosions killing over 2,300 Americans and completely destroyed the American battleship U.S.S. Arizona and capsized the U.S.S. Oklahoma. The attack sank or beached a total of twelve ships and damaged nine others. The attack took the country by surprise, especially the ill-prepared Pearl Harbor base.

A hurried dispatch from the ranking United States naval officer in Pearl Harbor, known as the Commander in Chief Pacific, to all major navy commands and fleet units provided the first official word of the attack. It said simply: "AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT drill ." Radio stations receiving the news interrupted regular broadcasts to announce the tragic news. Most people knew what the attack meant for the U.S. even before Roosevelt's official announcement the next day. The Americans believed a Japanese attack was imminent. The U.S. was already close to joining the war, but it had only committed to sending war supplies on loan to the Allied forces. Within days, the United States was brought into World War II.