It was 75 years ago today that the Japanese military attacked the American naval base in Hawaii known as Pearl Harbor. December 7th, 1941 is a date that many veterans in both the United States and Japan will never forget. This attack was ultimately the reason why the United States entered World War II. The U.S. then retaliated against Japan by shooting an atomic bomb at the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Both countries now agree that they were wrong in their attacks against each other and the violence that ensued from the conflict.
President Barack Obama gave a statement about the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and paid tribute to the more than 2,400 Americans who were killed when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The victims on that day were not just military men either. There were civilian men, women, and children who also got killed as well. As for the living veterans of Pearl Harbor who survived the attacks, they are all in their 90s now.
Later in December, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to visit Pearl Harbor for the first time. He will also be visiting the historic USS Arizona Memorial, which is the site of the location where the USS Arizona battleship was destroyed by the Japanese in their attack on Pearl Harbor. Out of the 1,177 Marines and sailors who were onboard the USS Arizona when it was attacked, only 75 of them survived.
President Obama plans to accompany Prime Minister Abe when he makes his visit to the memorial later on in the month. This will likely be around the time that President Obama will be going back to Hawaii for his annual Christmas vacation that he usually takes. This makes it very convenient for him to visit Pearl Harbor when Prime Minister Abe ends up going there.