Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Dec. 7, 2024.
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Dec. 7, 1941, the empire of Japan launched an air raid on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, killing more than 2,300 Americans. The United States declared war against Japan the following day.
Per reports, the entire live battle took two hours and 20 minutes, start to finish. The Japanese came, dropped their bombs, and headed for Manila for a second attack, leaving behind 2,403 dead, another 1,178 wounded, 18 ships sunk or disabled and 77 aircraft destroyed.
On Dec. 8, Congress officially declared war against Imperial Japan.
For days after the shattering attack on Pearl Harbor, as America headed into full-scale war with Japan, news stories alluded to the U.S. ships that had been wiped out in the onslaught. But news accounts were incomplete, confused and, in some cases, censored.
Not until the Dec. 13 article was the USS Utah mentioned by name in the Deseret News.
Most understand where the attack on Pearl Harbor fits in world history, how it changed American forever, and what many families remember of lives lost in the war that followed. Here are many thoughtful and well-written stories from Deseret News archives about the attack and what Utahns remember:
“Pearl Harbor is a symbol of the tremendous sacrifice necessary for freedom”
“Honoring a hero: One of the last Pearl Harbor survivors dies at the age of 102″
“This ‘Pearl Harbor’ is indeed a disaster”
“Word of USS Utah’s sinking came slowly to the nation”
“Utah remembers Pearl Harbor namesake ship, commissions youth group with historical name”
“Memories linger for USS Utah survivors”
“My grandfather’s memories of Pearl Harbor”
“Utah Pearl Harbor survivors, in their 90s, marking 70th anniversary”
“Pearl Harbor veterans cling to memories”
