69 Years Ago Today

0755 Hawaii time, 69 years ago. "A day that will live in infamy". One day later, it would inaugurate America's official entry into World War II.

Not long after the attack, Admiral Isoroku Yamamato, was asked about Japan's prospects in a war against America: "I can run wild for six months...after that, I have no expectations of success".

About six months later -- and the Battle of Midway -- Yamamoto would know how right he was. But would not live to see the disastrous end for Japan: he was shot out of the sky in an aerial ambush, in 1943.

But on this day, 69 years ago, dusk would see 2403 Americans dead, five battleships and numerous other ships sunk, almost two hundred planes destroyed.

A sleeping giant had indeed, been awakened, and filled with a terrible resolve. What it would cost, counted in the millions, ended with a terrible inauguration into the Atomic Age.