All told, on December 7, 1941 the Empire of Japan launched a sneak attack in two, possibly three, waves: 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes took off from six aircraft carriers stationed roughly 370 kilometers offshore. Because it was an early on a Sunday morning, most service members were going about personal business: eating, heading to Church, some just waking from sleep.
Other US installations in the Pacific located in the Philippines, on Guam, and on Wake Island, as well as some British Colonial outposts were attacked at the same time. But no attack that day had the emotional impact of Pearl Harbor. At 12:30 p.m. on December 8, 1973, President Franklin D. Roosevelt stood before Congress and delivered what is commonly referred to as his ‘Day of Infamy’ speech. Within an hour of his speech, Congress formally declared war against Japan, officially bringing the US into World War II.
In Long Beach, neither Carol nor her mother knew the fate of their beloved father and husband. There were rumors of casualties; it became known that many who were not killed were severely wounded. The wait was excruciating.
It would be seven very long days before they received a telegram from LT Beezley saying that he ‘was alright.’
