Pearl Harbor attack still remembered 68 years later
Bewilderment, patriotism, duty define Pearl Harbor memories

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Gaye Brown de Alvarez
Staff writer

GALLUP — It was 68 years ago today that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

It was intended as a pre-emptive action to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from influencing the war the Empire of Japan was planning to wage in southeast Asia against Britain, the Netherlands, and the United States. In two aerial attack waves totaling 353 aircraft, launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers, the attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and damaged four more. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer, destroyed 188 aircraft, and caused personnel losses of 2,402 killed and 1,282 wounded.

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