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Photo # NH 72273-KN:  'Remember Dec. 7th!'.  Poster issued by the Office of War Information, 1942

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific --

Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941 --
Remembrance of a "date which will live in infamy"

The Pearl Harbor attack entered the consciousness of contemporary Americans more forcefully than any other single contemporary event. Regarded as a dastardly "surprise attack" and an act of "infamy", during the Second World War every effort was made to keep its memory bright. Posters, popular songs and other media were staples of wartime popular culture, regular memorial services were held to commemorate the dead, and flags that had flown at the Capitol and White House on 7 December 1941 were raised over fallen enemy capital cities.

Even after the conflict ended, the Pearl Harbor "surprise" helped shape a generation of National defense policy and was not forgotten by those who had lived through the war. Monuments, large and small, were erected on the battle sites. Around the country, veterans' reunion groups met regularly to keep the memory alive. Even now, nearly seven decades later, Pearl Harbor remains the subject of a regular flow of documentaries, dramatic productions, books and articles.

This page features views related to the remembrance of the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack Pearl Harbor.

For other images of the memorialization of the Pearl Harbor raid, see:

  • USS Arizona Memorial; and
  • USS Utah Memorial.

    For additional pictorial coverage of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, see:

  • The Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941 -- Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 72273-KN (Color)

    "Remember Dec. 7th!"

    Poster designed by Allen Sandburg, issued by the Office of War Information, Washington, D.C., in 1942, in remembrance of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.
    The poster also features a quotation from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: "... we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain ...".

    Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Center. Donation of Dr. Robert L. Scheina, 1970.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 525 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-K-13328 (Color)

    "Farewell to Thee"

    Following Hawaiian tradition, Sailors honor men killed during the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Naval Air Station Kaneohe, Oahu. The casualties had been buried on 8 December. This ceremony took place sometime during the following months, possibly on Memorial Day, 31 May 1942.
    See Photo # 80-G-32854 for a photograph of the 8 December 1941 burial ceremonies.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 133KB; 740 x 555 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: USA C-799 (Color)

    Liberation of Rome, June 1944

    Crowds attend a retreat ceremony, in which the American flag that flew over the White House on 7 December 1941 was raised over the Victor Emmanuel II Monument in Rome, circa early June 1944. The monument is in the right background.
    Building at left bears a sign reading "Rome Area Command".

    Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 124KB; 490 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: USA C-4724 (Color)

    Army Day Ceremonies, 6 April 1948

    The U.S. flag which flew over the U.S. Capitol at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack is returned to the Capitol during Army Day ceremonies. This flag had been raised over the three defeated Axis capital cities, Rome, Berlin and Tokyo.
    In this photo, men of the Third Infantry Division, all World War II veterans, are presenting the flag at the Capitol Plaza, Washington, D.C. It is being accepted by Senator Arthur Vandenberg.

    Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 131KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: USN 1148754

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Photographic montage prepared for the 30th anniversary of the attack, 7 December 1971. It is accompanied by a poem by JO3 Jim Deken, USN, as presented in Photo # USN 1148754 (complete caption).

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 121KB; 615 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1148754.

     
    Photo #: NH 83439-KN (Color)

    USS Oklahoma (BB-37) Association

    Patch commemorating the Association's 1973 twin reunions at Anaheim, California, and Newport, Rhode Island.
    Colors & symbolism: Background - Gray - for the smoke of the attack; Maryland (background ship) - Pearl Gray for Pearl Harbor; Border rings and upper inscriptions - Scarlet - USS Oklahoma's colors were scarlet & white; Blue - Waters of Pearl Harbor and lower inscription; Brown - bottom of the capsized Oklahoma; Oil on the water - Black - for the infamous deed; White caps on the water - White.
    "32 came back" was the theme of the reunions, commemorating the trapped crewmen rescued from inside the capsized battleship.

    Donation of Gerald E. Foreman, 1975.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 139KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: USN 1067058

    USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii


    The marble northwestern interior wall of the memorial, with the names of the men lost with USS Arizona (BB-39) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941.
    Photographed by PH2 Thomas on 24 January 1963.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1067058.

     
    Photo #: NH 100928

    Naval Air Station Kanoehe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii


    Memorial to the eighteen Navy men and one civilian killed in the 7 December 1941 Japanese air attack on NAS Kanoehe Bay. Naval personnel who lost their lives were members of the station crew and of Patrol Squadrons 11, 12 and 14. The monument was erected at Marine Corps Air Station Kanoehe Bay in December 1981.
    Photographed 4 May 1986 by H.E.("Ed") Coffer.

    Donation of H.E. Coffer, 1986.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 100KB; 510 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97460-KN (Color)

    Captain Donald Kirby Ross, USN (Retired)

    Speaking at Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1991, during ceremonies marking the 50th Anniversary of the Japanese air raid there.
    Captain Ross is wearing the Medal of Honor he received for heroism while serving on board USS Nevada (BB-36) during the attack.
    Photographed by PHC Chet King

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97467-KN (Color)

    Captain Donald Kirby Ross, USN (Retired)

    Leads the audience in singing "God Bless America", during the dedication of the USS Nevada Memorial at Hospital Point, Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1991. The ceremony was part of an observance commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Japanese raid there.
    Captain Ross is wearing the Medal of Honor he received for heroism while serving on board USS Nevada (BB-36) during the attack.
    Photographed by PHC Carolyn Harris

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 510 pixels

     


    For other images of the memorialization of the Pearl Harbor raid, see:

  • USS Arizona Memorial; and
  • USS Utah Memorial.

    For additional pictorial coverage of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, see:

  • The Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941 -- Overview and Special Image Selection.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 15 January 2001
    Text updated and coding revised 16 April 2009