The U.S. Department of Defense reports that “on hallowed ground here, Pearl Harbor survivors and other World War II veterans gathered today to mark 75 years since the surprise Japanese attack on the island of Oahu that thrust the United States into war.”

“On that fateful Sunday morning, Dec. 7, 1941, the men ran to their battle stations and to the sound of the guns as they moved boldly to begin the defense of our country, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Navy Adm. Harry Harris, said.”

“‘It was a day of gallantry and unquestionable heroism even as it was a day of sacrifice and immeasurable loss,’ Harris said. ‘In less than two hours, there were over 2,400 killed, 1,200 wounded and a majority of the U.S. Pacific Fleet taken out of action.'”