Pearl Harbor Research Paper

The day ended with the heavy scent of oily smoke instead of the cool tropical breezes usual to Hawaiian weather. The hard wails of ambulances and clamor of emergency crews replaced the soft crash of waves against serene beaches and calming music of a ukulele. Deep colorful sunsets of paradise vistas were replaced with the dark crimson of make-shift hospitals to treat the multitudes of wounded and dying. On 7 December 1941, The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) attacked Pearl Harbor.

President Roosevelt accurately captured the sentiment of The United States when he addressed Congress, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the

Technology and techniques, if properly employed, would have created a completely alternate outcome of the battle and would have changed World War II. Technology and techniques were available at the time that would have alerted U.S. forces of the impending Japanese surprise attack. Altering American employment of key technologies and techniques would have led to U.S. forces forming a defense capable of repelling the Japanese offensive. The specific alterations included properly employing the newly developed radar technology, employing direct land-line communication to major commands, and improving language skills of Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) analysts. These alterations would have led to a day of island music with views of painted sunsets, and not of explosive bombs and pillars of smoldering

Significant conflicts were sparse and journalists joked that this was all a “phony war”. The hallmark of significant and protracted land operations that marked World War II, were yet to be realized. At sea, battle was completely different and more active. Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor caused all of this to change.

The Pearl Harbor attack referred specifically to the events that occurred on Oahu Island, Hawaii on 7 December, 1941. It was a surprise attack conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against key United States defenses and facilities. The focus of the attack was the U.S. Naval assets located in Pearl Harbor. Primary targets were the U.S. Pacific Fleet destroyer and carrier groups. Secondary targets included aircraft, Navy support vessels, support facilities, and additional targets of