December 7, 1941

Simple, but effective way to get the message

Sailor doing laundry on a surviving ship

Makeshift positions like this were later replaced with concrete bunkers which can still be seen today.

Some ships survived the attack, and an amazing number were salvaged and back in action in a matter of months because Pearl Harbor also had dry dock and shipyard facilities that survived.

US Army literally in the field.

Hawaii National Guardsmen with bayonettes prepare for an invasion which never came. Our beloved US Senator Daniel Inouye served with these men.

Mobilized immediately, our National Guard organized for defense along with the regular Army. Most of these men were Japanese-Americans, and thousands more volunteered. Due to racism, they were eventually sent to Europe where they became the most highly decorated division in WWII.

To reassure the frightened population, surviving bombers plus some moved in from the US mainland were flown over the Territory. They would have been of minimal use in the event of another attack, but they helped morale.

On December 7, 1941, the peace of our beautiful Hawaii was broken horrifically. 1002 sailors are entombed in the hull of the Arizona, left in place as a memorial. May they rest in peace. The photos in this series are not my own, but taken from the LIFE archives.