December 7, 1941 – a date which, to quote President Franklin Roosevelt, “will live in infamy.” Japanese forces assaulted Pearl Harbor and nearby military operations in an apparent surprise attack, hoping to decimate US power in the Pacific. Twenty one ships were sunk or damaged. Two thousand four hundred and three men died; 1178 were wounded. Had communications between Washington and Hawaii and even within the military itself been more efficient, all of these figures would have been significantly reduced. Two crucial communications: the detection and destruction of a submarine in restricted waters and the sighting of 50 planes on radar could have greatly reduced the damage of the day had they been regarded as signs of an attack. Additionally, vast amounts of information had been disregarded by an administration apparently eager to enter World War II. Several allies gave information that clearly showed plans for an attack, yet they too were ignored. Explicit signs, such as an increased amount of messages, including deciphered transmissions, sent to various Japanese consuls, were also overlooked. Though it will never overshadow the amount of men who died in action, one of the greatest tragedies of that day was our failure to acknowledge and communicate messages containing evidence of an attack.

click thumbnails for enlargement