On Monday, December 8, 1941, members of the U.S. Congress met in special session to hear an address by President Franklin Roosevelt. The weather that day had started out with light rain and fog, but it had cleared somewhat and by 12:30 p.m., as the President began his speech, the temperature had risen to the low 50s. But the assembled members of Congress weren't concerned with the weather that day.
The President delivered the following speech that would forever change not only the lives of millions of Americans but also the character of the government of the United States. He intoned in an attitude of deep seriousness the following words.
Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by navel and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that Nation. . . .
[T]he attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace....
As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
But always will our whole Nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us top overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory....
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.
In that dastardly attack, at least 2,400 people lost their lives. Of those victims, 1,117 were Navy personnel, 233 were Army soldiers, 109 were Marines, and 68 were civilians. An unknown number of Coast Guardsmen, foreigners, and personnel from Allied nations also lost their lives. Another 1,178 individuals were wounded.
Following FDR's speech, the Senate voted 82-0 and the House of Representatives voted 388-1 to declare war on Japan. (Jeanette Rankin of Montana cast the lone dissenting vote. She had also voted with 49 other representatives against the declaration of war against Germany in World War I.)
For the next three and nine months, the United States military forces and industrial capacity of the nation struggled to win that inevitable victory, but not without great sacrifice. The lives of more than 133 million Americans were dramatically disrupted by the war, and of those 407,316 paid the ultimate sacrifice. Another 671,278 were wounded.
But, as FDR assured America, the United States did win, and on September 2, 1945, Japanese military and civilian representatives signed the documents of surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
We must never forget. We must forever maintain our nation's security by ensuring peace through strength.
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