At 12:48 PM today, it will be 76 years since the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It's not known how many survivors still remain with us, but the number is small and falling quickly. A few years ago the DOD estimated 2000-2500, and given that they are all well into their 90s or 100s memory is all we'll have soon.
Survivor stories
Two decades after his death and 76 years after that day, a Pearl Harbor hero is finally being recognized
DNA is allowing the remains of the fallen to be identified all these years later
Colorization makes familiar photos of the aftermath intense and vivid. 
Overpowering experience...
2. Why didn't they simultaneously attack midway and invade there?
2. Why didn't they simultaneously attack midway and invade there?
Their thinking was American did not want to go to war. By taking out their Pacific fleet in one blow, it would weaken them and make them even less likely to go to war.
They didn’t really have the forces for an invasion, and they needed to consolidate their position in Asia, particularly capturing the oil fields in the East Indies. Trying to capture and then defend islands halfway across the ocean never entered their thinking.
2. Why didn't they simultaneously attack midway and invade there?
The Japanese miscalculated. They believe the isolationists in America would not allow the Nation to go to war. Many Japanese strategists (not the tactical leaders) saw the U.S. as a paper tiger that did not want to intervene in the Pacific theater with hell breaking loose in Europe.
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1. After the initial attack on pearl harbor. Why didn't the Japanese invade the island. That would seem like the most opportune time.
2. Why didn't they simultaneously attack midway and invade there?
The Japanese miscalculated. They believe the isolationists in America would not allow the Nation to go to war. Many Japanese strategists (not the tactical leaders) saw the U.S. as a paper tiger that did not want to intervene in the Pacific theater with hell breaking loose in Europe.
I have a hard time believing that after being attacked the US wouldn't respond.
Reason i ask about invading hawaii is didnt they eventually go after midway so they can invade hawaii? So why wouldnt they do that at that moment?
The commander of the strike force that carried out the attack, Admiral Nagumo, hated the plan. When the two waves of planes had returned, he decided that the attack had been successful enough despite the American carrier force being at sea, and took off for Japan. Yamamoto was aghast when he learned that the attack had not been pressed further.
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1. After the initial attack on pearl harbor. Why didn't the Japanese invade the island. That would seem like the most opportune time.
2. Why didn't they simultaneously attack midway and invade there?
Their thinking was American did not want to go to war. By taking out their Pacific fleet in one blow, it would weaken them and make them even less likely to go to war.
They didn’t really have the forces for an invasion, and they needed to consolidate their position in Asia, particularly capturing the oil fields in the East Indies. Trying to capture and then defend islands halfway across the ocean never entered their thinking.
In addition they were invading the Philippines, Singapore and New Guinea. Not enough troops to go around and insufficient forces to keep all those supply lines open
2. Why didn't they simultaneously attack midway and invade there?
They never intended to invade. Just shut down the US fleet until they could secure their lines of communication to protect their conquests.
Their biggest fault was not completing Commander Genda's full plan. A 3rd wave was to destroy the dockyard and repair facilities.
Admiral Nagumo feared that the missing carriers were near by and could attack his fleet and ordered the fleet to retire feeling that damage already inflicted would nullify the US fleet as intended.
And many of us had family that served in the Pacific in WWII.
Also I saw where on DDay the allies were to take the key bridge simply because Rommel was back in Germany for the day having a birthday party for his wife. The signals got crossed and they didn't get the tanks to the bridge in time.
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looks like many of us paid attention to the Pearl Harbor attack in History class...
And many of us had family that served in the Pacific in WWII.
I'm one of those, too. Old man was USN..
Also I saw where on DDay the allies were to take the key bridge simply because Rommel was back in Germany for the day having a birthday party for his wife. The signals got crossed and they didn't get the tanks to the bridge in time.
No B52s were even available at that time and I don't think the B25 was yet designed...
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with these battles. While at PH they said that as a coincidence the base there was expecting a bunch of B52 bombers back from repair that day or so. While the Japanese plan appeared to include flying low enough to not be detected by radar, they were in fact picked up but the person on post thought that it was the US B52's coming back. Imagine if they knew they were Japanese and were intercepted?
Also I saw where on DDay the allies were to take the key bridge simply because Rommel was back in Germany for the day having a birthday party for his wife. The signals got crossed and they didn't get the tanks to the bridge in time.
No B52s were even available at that time and I don't think the B25 was yet designed...
It was a flight of B-17s coming in from the West Coast. The B-25 was in service but didn't have the range to fly from the West Coast to Hawaii.
The only thing the Japanese had to worry about (they didn't know about the inbound flight) was that the Flying Fortresses would radio ahead after spotting the fleet.
The only thing the Japanese had to worry about (they didn't know about the inbound flight) was that the Flying Fortresses would radio ahead after spotting the fleet.
Yep you guys are right I somehow had B 52's in my head. Thats what I meant if they realized on radar it was Japanese it would have changed everything