The legacy of the events from 74 years ago today can be found in what came after.
The surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, in which the Imperial Japanese Navy targeted the Pacific fleet of the United States, killed 2,403 Americans and wounded more than 1,000 others. The toll was horrific, yet it was the United States’ subsequent entry into World War II that truly altered the course of human history.
The Greatest Generation was called into action, eventually leading to Allied victories over Japan in the Pacific theater and over German-led forces that had overrun Europe. The United States likely would have eventually been drawn into the war regardless, but the Pearl Harbor attack left no other options, and it is because of this that today remains a noteworthy commemoration for all Americans.
While the generation that forged that victory and turned this nation into the world’s most powerful is gradually slipping away, the history involved remains as powerful as ever. With that in mind, it is worth mentioning an exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society in downtown Portland: “World War II: A World At War, A State Transformed.” Containing many significant artifacts from throughout the war and detailing the effort that brought peace to the world, the exhibit effectively tells the story of mankind’s largest conflict.
Additionally, a portion of the exhibit focuses upon the war’s impact in the Northwest. With the West Coast abutting the Pacific Ocean, this sector of the country was particularly attuned to the threat posed by Japan. Late in the war, in fact, Japanese forces launched a series of balloon bombs designed to spark fires in the vast forests of the Northwest. On May 5, 1945, six people in Southern Oregon were killed by such a bomb, the only combat deaths on U.S. soil during World War II.
This story and others are the focus of the historical society exhibit, which continues through Sunday. And they serve to put a human face on a war that — for the United States, at least — was sparked by the attack at Pearl Harbor.
For younger generations attempting to put into perspective “a day that will live in infamy,” there are many parallels to be drawn between Pearl Harbor and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Both delivered unexpected carnage; both drew the United States into a global conflict that escalated in the years to come.
But while Pearl Harbor brought about a collective effort on the part of Americans, 9/11 in many ways has divided us. Some of that is due to the way in which then-President George W. Bush chose to fight the War on Terrorism. Rather than asking for sacrifice from all Americans, he launched the war while simultaneously cutting taxes. The need for a national commitment was underplayed, leaving war to the soldiers and private contractors while leaving Main Street sanitized and indifferent. For example, immediately after 9/11, the government promoted “Patriot Bonds” to help raise money for the fight against terrorism; yet these were merely regular savings bonds under another name, and the program was dropped in 2011 after raising $11 billion.
World War II was different. Citizens bought War Bonds, dealt with the rationing of products such as gasoline, and planted victory gardens. Such a concerted effort might again be necessary, if the battle against terrorism truly is a war.
So, as we pause today to recall the events of 74 years ago, we can recall the real impact of Pearl Harbor — it galvanized a nation.
