Pearl Harbor remembered

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. USS West Virginia aflame. Disregarding the dangerous possibilities of explosions, United States sailors man their boats at the side of the burning battleship, USS West Virginia, to better fight the flames started by Japanese torpedoes and bombs.

This navy dispatch announces the attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by the Japanese Navy. It was received at the Squantum Naval Reserve Aviation Base on December 7, 1941 from the First Naval District. It states, "AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT DRILL."

The forward magazines of USS Arizona (BB-39) explode after she was hit by a Japanese bomb, on Dec. 7, 1941. Frame clipped from a color motion picture taken from on board USS Solace (AH-5).

Naval photograph documenting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which initiated US participation in World War II. Navy's caption: The terrific explosion of the destroyer USS Shaw when her magazine exploded after being bombed by Japanese aircraft in the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

The USS Shaw explosion, as seen in a photo negative, after the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941.

USS Arizona, at height of fire, following Japanese aerial attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

A small boat rescues a seaman from the 31,800 ton USS West Virginia burning in the foreground. Smoke rolling out amid ships shows where the most extensive damage occurred.

Keel of the capsized USS Oklahoma with the USS Maryland in the background during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

Wreckage of USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

Pearl Harbor bombing. California hit. Battered by aerial bombs and torpedoes, the USS California settles slowly into the mud and muck of Pearl Harbor. Clouds of black, oily smoke pouring up from the California and her stricken sister ships conceal all but the hull of the capsized USS Oklahoma at the extreme right.

Pearl Harbor bombing. Stricken from the air. Testifying to the extent of the Japanese sneak attacks are these three stricken U.S. battleships. Left to right: USS West Virginia, severely damaged; USS Tennessee, damaged; and USS Arizona, sunk.

USS Arizona, at height of fire, following Japanese aerial attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Leaves berth virtually surrounded by stricken ships. The U.S.S. Neosho, navy oil tanker, cautiously backs away from her berth (right center) in a successful effort to escape the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. At left the battleship USS California lists after aerial blows. Other crippled warships and part of the hull of the capsized U.S.S. Oklahoma may be seen in the background. The Neosho was later sunk in the Coral Sea.

The USS ARIZONA burning after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

A ship sinks into Pearl Harbor.

USS Arizona, at height of fire, following Japanese aerial attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The USS Oklahoma after Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941.

Smoke pours from the USS Shaw, bombed dry dock (right center) while in the foreground lies the capsized USS Oglala, a minelayer. To the left is the 10,000-ton cruiser, USS Helena, struck by an aerial torpedo on the starboard side. The concussion caused the Oglala, formerly berthed alongside the Helena to flood and she turned over after being brought to dock. At the extreme left, may be seen some of the superstructure of the USS Pennsylvania and at the right appears to be the USS Maryland burning.

Hit by three bombs which exploded her forward magazine, the 1,500-ton destroyer Shaw lies a twisted mass of wreckage in the heavily-bombed floating drydock YFD-2. Note the bow of the Shaw lying on its side in the foreground. Part of the drydock, at right, is under water while the other side is listing heavily. Both the Shaw and the drydock were put back in use.

Naval photograph documenting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which initiated US participation in World War II. Navy's caption: The USS Oglala capsized after being attacked by Japanese aircraft and submarines in the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

The USS ARIZONA burning after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941. 1941.

Naval photograph documenting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which initiated US participation in World War II. Navy's caption: Abandoning ship aboard the USS California after the ship had been set afire and started to sink from being attacked by the Japanese in their attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

Sinking ships seen in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941.

USS West Virginia aflame. Disregarding the dangerous possibilities of explosions, United States sailors man their boats at the side of the burning battleship, USS West Virginia, to better fight the flames started by Japanese torpedoes and bombs. Note the national colors flying against the smoke-blackened sky.

Wreckage of USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

Page one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech in which he asked Congress to declare war following Pearl Harbor.

Page two of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech in which he asked Congress to declare war on Japan following Pearl Harbor.

Page three of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech in which he asked Congress to declare war on Japan following Pearl Harbor.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the Declaration of War against Japan on Dec. 8, 1941.

Senate Joint Resolution 116, Declaring War Against Japan, dated Dec. 8, 1941.