PD Editorial: Dec. 7, 1941: A story of infamy and recovery

At 7:53 a.m. 75 years ago today on the island of Oahu, the first bombs descended from Japanese war planes. At 7:58 a.m. the alarm went out, “Air raid, Pearl Harbor. This is not a drill!''

And at that moment, history changed for family in this country – tragically, some more than others.

Although three-quarters of a century have now passed away since that fateful day, we're fortunate here on the North Coast to still have a few residents who remember what happened that day vividly and many others who took part in the long war and recovery that ensued.

Six years ago, the local branch of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association disbanded because its leaders, most of them in their 90s, said they were getting too old to run the organization. But we're as grateful to those individuals today as ever - and we're grateful for the stories they have left us.

Some of those tales concern what happened when Japanese airplanes, launched from six aircraft carriers, swept down on Pearl Harbor that bright Sunday morning.

In all, more than 2,400 Americans were killed in the attack, including 1,177 who perished on the battleship Arizona alone. Only 334 servicemen assigned to the Arizona that day survived.

Of the 96 warships present in Pearl Harbor, 18 of the largest, including eight battleships, were sunk or severely damaged. In addition, 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed.

The Pacific Fleet was so caught off guard and the damage was so devastating, the military was unable to mount much of a defense. Nonetheless, the Japanese lost 29 planes and five midget submarines during the attack.

In all, 64 Japanese also were killed that day.

What shouldn't be forgotten is Hawaii wasn't the only target. Japan also attacked the Philippines, Wake Island, Guam, Malaya (Malaysia), Thailand and Midway on that day and the days to follow. All, except Midway, eventually fell to Japanese control.

The devastation in many of those areas was extensive as well. The British Navy was crippled by the loss of its two major aircraft carriers off of Malaya three days after Pearl Harbor.

Here along the West Coast, the attack came with widespread fear that the Japanese were going to invade California. But history has since shown that the Imperial Japanese Navy had stretched itself to its limits by reaching Hawaii.

In the process, it had achieved a devastating blow to America's military strength, but not a fatal one.

What we honor today is not just those who died 75 years ago in Hawaii - and those survivors who have since passed past away - but what came in the days that followed. Despite the extensive damage, all but three of the U.S. ships that were sunk or damaged at Pearl Harbor were salvaged and put back into service.

That remarkable achievement alone became a metaphor for a nation that would mobilize its resolve and industrial might to not only defeat Japan but Germany as well.

Today, we recognize and honor all those who had a hand in helping a nation endure those dark days and ultimately to achieve that victory.

We remember Pearl Harbor. We also remember all those who made sure that what happened that day 75 years ago was not the last word.