Today marks the 70th anniversary of a date that has indeed lived in infamy: December 7, 1941 — the date on which the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and thrust America into World War II. The next afternoon, before a joint session of Congress, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, to thunderous applause, “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.” He then, in accordance with our Constitution, asked Congress for a declaration of war. That same afternoon, he received and signed that declaration.
Across nearly four years, victory in the Pacific was achieved through the heroic and brave sacrifice of uniformed Americans and their allies, the diligent efforts on the home front to supply them with arms, and the leadership of the Allied commanders, headed by Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. Each of these men commanded a part of the Pacific theater — Nimitz to the east of the 159th degree of east longitude (which, appropriately, includes mostly water), MacArthur to the west of that line (which includes Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and many other islands).
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