December 7, 1941, started out like any other day in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. But around 8 a.m., a swarm of Japanese aircraft appeared over the U.S. military base. Suddenly, the planes dropped bombs and torpedoes on the unsuspecting sailors below.
The base was thrown into chaos. As sailors tried to scramble to safety, their battleships went up in flames. More than 2,400 Americans were killed in the surprise attack. The next day, the U.S. declared war on Japan and entered World War II (1939-1945).
Today more than a million people visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial every year. They honor those who died and learn how the attack changed the course of history.
Harrison Johnson from North Raleigh, North Carolina, made the trip in April 2022. It inspired him to raise money to help tell the stories of the heroes of Pearl Harbor.