On a quiet Sunday morning in Oahu, before the sun had fully risen, American service members were starting their day. Some were writing letters home, some were standing watch, and others were preparing for their daily duties or simply getting ready for breakfast.

It was a day like any other, until it wasn't.

Japanese aircraft approached in coordinated waves from above, marking the beginning of what President Franklin Roosevelt later called a date that would live in infamy. It was December 7, 1941.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was sudden, devastating, and unforgettable. In the minutes that followed, the United States was pushed into one of its greatest tests of courage and character.

A Brief Look at December 7, 1941

At 7:55 a.m., the first wave of the attack began. Battleships burned and hangars collapsed. Within hours:

• 2,403 Americans were killed
• 1,178 were wounded
• The USS Arizona and the USS Oklahoma were among the ships lost or destroyed
• Nearly 190 U.S. aircraft were destroyed
  
  

For a detailed historical overview, The National WWII Museum offers a full timeline.

Despite overwhelming odds, Americans fought back with everything they had.

Heroes Who Stood in the Fire

Below are a few of the Americans whose actions turned tragedy into a legacy of courage.

Doris “Dorie” Miller: The Untrained Gunner Who Saved Lives

Mess Attendant Third Class Doris Miller was not trained to operate deck guns. He was never expected to fight.

When the USS West Virginia was hit, he ran toward the danger, pulling wounded shipmates to safety. He then took position at an anti-aircraft gun and returned fire, holding his ground through the attack.

His official Navy biography can be found here:
Miller, Doris

Miller later received the Navy Cross, one of the highest honors for valor.

Lt. Commander Samuel Fuqua: Last Off the USS Arizona

When the USS Arizona was struck, Lt. Commander Samuel Fuqua was knocked unconscious.
He woke to burning oil, exploding ammunition, and men fighting for their lives.

He took command immediately, directing firefighting efforts, organizing rescue attempts, and ordering survivors to abandon ship. He stayed until he was certain no one else could be saved.

His Navy citation can be found here:
NH 92306 Commander Samuel Glenn Fuqua, USN

His actions earned him the Medal of Honor.

Chief Boatswain Edwin Hill: The Last Rope Cut

As the USS Nevada attempted to move through the harbor, Chief Boatswain Edwin Hill left the safety of the ship, swam through burning fuel, and secured her lines. He returned again to cut additional lines to keep the ship from blocking the channel.

He lost his life on deck while trying to protect his crew.

More about Hill can be found here:
Edwin Joseph Hill | World War II | U.S. Navy | Medal of Honor Recipient

His sacrifice remains one of the defining acts of courage from that morning.

These heroes remind us of the character that holds this country together.

• Americans who step forward when everything is falling apart
• Americans who choose courage instead of fear
• Americans who believe freedom is worth defending
  
  

These servicemen did not wake up expecting to become heroes.
They simply did what they believed was right.

A Message from Liberty Defender

At Liberty Defender Co., we honor the Americans who carried this nation through its hardest days. Their courage is the backbone of our mission, which is to uplift the values of service, sacrifice, and freedom.

Every December, we remember them.
And we tell their stories so they are never forgotten.