Everything pointed to it being another quiet, blue day on the island of Honolulu, Hawaii. The fleet at Pearl Harbor's naval base still, in a neutral position without joining the Allied troops, which had started World War II in 1939.

That reality was about to change when, on 7 December 1941, Japanese air forces filled the skies with 353 planes and attacked the heart of the American naval base. Of the 8 American warships hit, Arizona and Oklahoma sank and the remaining 6 suffered severe damage. In all, 20 military ships experienced heavy destruction and 188 planes were shot down in this unexpected attack, which saw no response. Japan officially declared war on the USA and caused more than 2300 deaths and 1178 injuries, in contrast to the 100 Japanese lives it sacrificed.

In a speech to the nation and addressing the American Congress, Franklin Roosevelt stated that in the face of such a vile attack, 7 December 1941 would be “a date that will live in infamy”. The United States, together with the Allied forces, went to war.