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Aumua issues statement on 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Attack

Source: Media release, office of Congresswoman Aumua Amata

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata, issued the following statement on Wednesday to observe the 75th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, HI by Imperial Japan on December 7, 1941.

“Today marks 75 years since that most infamous day when Japanese bombers viciously attacked the United States Naval Base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing over 2,400 and injuring another 1,700 American Servicemen and women.

Following the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously uttered the words “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

The attack would bring the United States into the war, and over the next four years, our naval, army and Marine forces would slowly march the Imperial Japanese back to Japan island by island, costing countless lives…we are forever grateful to those men and women who in the name of freedom made the ultimate sacrifice against the threat of tyranny.

“Today’s anniversary marks a special place in my family’s personal story, as my father was a survivor of the attack that day. I’ll never forget the story he told me of that day and what happened to him…he was driving a jeep back to Schofield Barracks to begin his duty for the day when the Japanese struck, and found himself directly in the line of fire of the incoming aircraft, which strafed his jeep with machine gun fire. Thankfully my father was unharmed, and would go on to do his part in helping defeat the Japanese.

“The world has changed a great deal since that time, and we now call Japan one of our closest allies. This should serve as a lesson to us…that no matter our past, we can build a positive future together. However, the United States will always stand up to the face of tyranny when it presents itself, and we will always be victorious, thanks to not only to those brave men and women who serve our great nation, but because of the ideals and values we hold so dear.

“May God continue to bless the United States, American Samoa, and all those who stand in our defense.”