Pearl Harbor: Asian Americans Witness Air Raid on Dec 7th, 1941

by Burt Takeuchi
Nihonmachi Outreach Committee
May 14, 2001

NIhonmachi Outreach Committee of San Jose has been conducting ongoing oral histories. This is a portion of their work, appropriate given the upcoming release of "Pearl Harbor." Please visit their website.

On Dec 7th, 1941 Pearl Harbor (Oahu) was attacked by Imperial Japanese Naval forces at about 7:55am in the morning. Over 33% of Hawai'i's population was of Japanese ancestry who lived with their Filipino, Native Hawai'ian, Chinese, Korean, and white (Haole) neighbors. Much of the skilled labor, commercial fishing,and cannery work were done by Japanese American's. When the bombs fell on Pearl Harbor many locals were collateral casualties in the raid. Most of the collateral casualties were caused by stray US Navy 3" anti aircraft (AA) shells or 50 caliber anti aircraft rounds that fell into the local neighborhoods surrounding Pearl Harbor. "Civilians from Waikiki to Pearl City were killed by exploding anti aircraft munitions (friendly fire)." Asian Americans were among the first US citizens and residents to become casualties when America was thrust into WW2.

Pearl Harbor 2 - Chip Chiapetta

"Asian Americans were among the first US citizens and residents casualties when America was thrust into WW2."

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