In 1994, 53 years after the event, President Bill Clinton signed a resolution designating December 7th as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in honor of the 2403 Americans killed in the attacks. This wasn’t a random attack, or one hastily planned either – the Japanese had been putting this together for weeks. But it was the actions of the Americans that created the perfect conditions for the vast damage brought on by the attack.
In Countdown to Pearl Harbor, Steve Twomey delves into the events of the twelve days leading up to infamous attacks. Revealing facts you may not have learned in history class, the author documents the conversations and decisions at all levels of government on both sides of the ocean. The dichotomy of the well protected secret plan of the Japanese forces and the blundering miscommunications of the Americans is presented by Twomey in a way that leaves the readers questioning not how this could happen, but more how was it not any worse?
I give Countdown to Pearl Harbor 4 out of 5 stars. After reading several nonfictions about the attacks, I was surprised to learn so much new information from Twomey’s work. Twomey writes in the style of a documentary but delivers a compelling narrative that connects readers with the human factor in this historical moment. I especially appreciated the way Twomey captured the Japanese planning and spy craft leading up to the attacks.
I recommend this book to readers looking to learn more about the Pearl Harbor attacks or the greater World War II Pacific Theatre. This is a great read for military strategy and history lovers alike. With light references to death and destruction, this book would be best directed to readers over the age of 13. This would also make a great read for those interested in Japanese history – Twomey was awarded the Best Book about Japan in 2016 from the Japan Times for this work.
I chose Countdown to Pearl Harbor in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day this year. The attack at Pearl Harbor is a battle that has intrigued me for years. As Twomey details late in the book, the majority of the ships assigned to the Pacific Fleet were in port, close together, and without standard protections of the time which resulted in the large amount of damage incurred. Twomey’s insights into the decisions leading up to the attack gave me such insight into how this happened and what could have been done to prevent it.
To all our friends who lost loved ones at Pearl Harbor and to the survivors of the attack – our thoughts are with you on this anniversary. While it has been 82 years since the attack and most members of this generation have since passed, the grief and loss are still felt by so many who lost fathers they never met. It is important we learn from our history to prevent future disasters.
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: My Side of the River, Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez
- Current audio book: Still Me, Jojo Moyes
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Same Time, Next Year, Debbie Macomber
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