Pearl Harbor: A day that will live in infamy

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Will Clark
  • 571st Global Mobility Squadron commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Dec. 7 is the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

According to Ernest Arroyo's book, "Pearl Harbor," 350 Japanese aircraft attacked the Pacific fleet while it lay at anchor on a Sunday morning on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

In just under two hours, approximately 2,400 Americans were dead with more than 1,300 injured. Until the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, this was the deadliest attack on American soil. Besides being a great loss of life, why is an attack that happened before many of your parents were born something we should reflect on today?

First, we should never forget the sacrifice that the men and women gave on that day in the defense of their country. While the winds of war were beginning to stir, most of the personnel serving at that time were volunteers. When they went to bed that Saturday night, no one expected to wake up the next morning to falling bombs and strafing aircraft.

Though totally surprised, their training and often shear courage kicked in as they defended themselves, their ships and their fellow men and women. During those two hours, 15 Medals of Honor (10 posthumously) were earned by selfless acts of heroism. Countless other medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross, also were awarded for courageous acts. I encourage you to pick up a book on Pearl Harbor or go online and learn more about their specific deeds.

Second, it serves as a great lesson to us about always being ready. Following the end World War I, the United States withdrew from the international scene and turned to a policy of isolationism.

Even as world events during the 1930s and early '40s pointed toward war, the U.S. stood fast to remaining neutral. It wasn't until the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor that many Americans realized they could not close their eyes to the events of the world.

Some of you may have been in the Air Force during the 9/11 attacks. They caught us all by surprise, but we had to be ready to react. For many, our lives changed drastically as we deployed forces to the Middle East to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

Now, after 12 years, we have left Iraq and begin our drawdown from Afghanistan. It is tempting for our nation to want to step back and catch its breath. We may become leery to get involved in other countries' problems. As individual service members we can't control the strategic policy of our government, but we can stay prepared to answer the call whenever it comes.

So, I encourage you to take a moment on Dec. 7 to think about the sacrifice of those who have gone before you and honor their memory by recommitting yourself to being prepared to defend our nation no matter what threat appears. Hopefully, through our continued vigilance, we will never have another Pearl Harbor or 9/11 surprise us again. Make President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's words ring true when he said Dec. 7, 1941, was a day "that will live in infamy."