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Pearl Harbor
On the morning of December 7, 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service unleashed a surprise military strike against the United States Naval Base. This led the US into entry of World War II. Japan used this attack to prevent the US from interfering with any military actions they planned against overseas territories. All eight US Navy battleships were damaged, and 4 were sunk. In the end, 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded. Japanese casualties however were light, 64 men. -
Japanese internment in US
During World War II, Japanese-Americans/people of Japanese ancestry in the United States were forced into internment camps. Even though 62% of the people in the camps were United States citizens, they were still held there. These actions were taken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was believed that anyone with any relation to Japan was part of the attack on December 7, 1941. -
Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, was an air raid by the U.S. on Tokyo during World War II. This served as retaliation to the previous Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese. This attack gave a strong sense of morale to the Americans and boosted their positivity. Although the raid did not cause much material damage to Japan, it did give the US boost of confidence that they needed. -
Battle of Midway
In The Battle of Midway, the United States defeated an attacking group of the Imperial Japanese Navy causing devastating damage on the fleet of Japanese that seemed indestructible. The Japanese launched this attack in hopes to add more to their frustration in addition to Pearl Harbor. This was considered to be part of a turning point in the Pacific War. After Midway, Japan struggled to rebuild its losses including men, with the major amounts in casualties. -
Nauru Island Bombing
While Japan had control of Nauru, their rampage in the Pacific was coming to an end. From their previous issues of being defeated in the prior battles, they were being forced to act defensively. Japan was unaware that America was deciding to bypass the island. By bombing, Allied warships made it even more difficult for supply ships to get through to the island. -
Louie's Plane Goes Missing
This is the date that the plane Louie and his crew were on went down into the ocean. Louie, Mac, and Phil were the only two who survived this to live on the raft. Louie and Phil were the only ones who survived through the whole thing. -
Louie Telegram stating he is missing
The telegram announcing Louie's disappearance is released with shock following. Military goes crazy searching but have no luck. The announcement reaches Torrance where family and friends express their grief. -
Louie told he will be sent to POW camp
Louie is taken into an interrogation room, expecting that he is being led towards execution. He is told that he will be sent to a POW camp, Ofuna, in Yokohama, Japan. -
Louie Arrives at Ofuna Camp
Louie's first step on Japanese soil. He had just arrived at the POW camp and was bloody and beaten. He had stepped off the ship after being taunted by drunken sailors. -
Louie's Listed "Death Date"
This day was Louie's official listed death date. This notice was a piece of paper and none of his family members actually believed it. They believed that he was alive and it was just the fact that he was missing for 13 months. -
Order to kill POW's confirmed
The Japanese War Ministry issues a clarification that all POW camp commanders would be executed. The campers were feared of that they would help turn the battle against the Japanese. -
Louie is transferred to Omori Camp
Louie and several other men are told they are going to POW camp, Omori. They are rushed and told they have 10 minutes to grab their belongings. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Battle of Leyte Gulf is considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II, and by some the largest in history. It was fought between combined American and Australian forces against the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was the first battle where Japanese used organized kamikaze attacks. The Japanese failed its objective to use all it had left to defeat the enemy force. The majority of its surviving remained in the base for the rest of the Pacific War, suffering heavily from further attacks. -
Conventional bombing of Tokyo
The bombing of Tokyo was considered as a series of firebombing raids and was instructed by as part of the air raids on Japan by United States Army Air Forces. This took place during the Pacific campaigns of World War II. This began with strategic area bombing after the B-29 entered service. This B-29 was the key to these bombing missions. This gave much more capability. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was a major battle when the US Marine Corps landed on, and captured Iwo Jima island during World War II. This invasion was a goal for the United States to capture and stage attacks on the Japanese main islands. This 5-week battle included some of the bloodiest and toughest battling of the war in the Pacific. The Japanese combat deaths tripled the amount for the United States, however for the War in the Pacific, the US exceeded the numbers of the Japanese casualties. -
First Atomic Bomb Dropped
On August 6, 1945, the American bomber Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima in Japan. The blast from the bomb was equal to a power of 15,000 tons of TNT. This affect immediately killed 80,000 people in the city. The Americans used the Atomic Bomb to cause the Japanese to surrender by creating more casualties and destruction. This first bomb did not however cause the Japanese to surrender, with their persistence to keep the war continuing. -
VJ Day
V-J Day, also known as Victory over Japan Day, is the day that Japan surrendered from World War II, ending the war. This day was caused because of the 2 atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, by the United States. Surrender was the exact goal of the US. Although this day was not the exact time when Japan signed the surrender documents, it was still the time to celebrate their offering of surrendering.
