After Pearl Harbor

The day after the attack

On December 8, 1942, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United Stated of America declared war on Japan. The British followed and declared war on Japan. On December 11, 1942, Germany and the USA were also at war with each other. 

The USA and its allies were deeply moved by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. However, these allies were only partly satisfied that a country like the USA with such a large and strong economy, a large population and a large army was now joining them in the fight against Germany and Japan.

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 21, 1941, US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt asked the top staff officers of the US military to quickly organize an action to bomb Japan.

This action was intended to show the American people that the United States of America was decisive and prepared to enter conflict with Japan. After the Japanese attack, morale among the American military and population was at an all-time low. Japan, according to many, would soon attack the USA through a land invasion. The United States of America were not in good shape at all. Roosevelt wanted to raise this morale again. Therefore, the action had to be carried out quickly. Japan had to and would be hit in its own country, on its own soil. .

Roosevelt intended an American action against Japan to show the Japanese that they were vulnerable and nowhere safe, not even in their own country.

He left the concrete details of the (revenge)action to his staff officers. In any case, the utmost secrecy was demanded from the top staff officers of the US military. 

The senior US staff officers commissioned by President Roosevelt (4th picture) on December 21, 1941 were: 

General George C. Marshall (Land Forces) (left)

General Henry H. Arnold (Air Forces) (middle)

Admiral Ernest J. King (Naval Forces)  (right)

Copyright 2023 – Geert Rottiers 
Research : Geert Rottiers