US marks 75th anniversary of Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

The United States on Wednesday marked the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii that claimed more than 2,400 American lives.


As many as 2,403 Americans were killed and about 20 US vessels were sunk or damaged and over 300 US aircrafts were damaged or destroyed when over 350 Japanese warplanes launched attacks stealthily.

For the remaining survivors, the nightmarish scenes of Japanese ferocity linger on even after over seven decades.

"I can't forget it. I never will," said 104-year-old survivor Ray Chaves in an interview with NBC News.

"In the hours after the attack, President Roosevelt promised that 'the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.' Thanks to the heroism of a generation, we did," said US President Barack Obama in a statement.

The attack came as a shock to the Americans and directly led to US entry into World War II.

On Aug. 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Another US nuclear strike was launched on the Japanese city of Nagasaki three days later. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945.
 [china/Xinhua]

8/12/16