Racine Sun

Republican Wisconsin First Congressional District U.S. House Rep. Bryan Steil recalled the unprovoked Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 earlier this week and the heroism of those who served that day.

On Monday, Dec. 7, Steil used his Twitter account to remember the day.

"Today is a day that will always live in infamy," Steil said in his Twitter post. "Eighty years ago, we suffered a surprise attack at #PearlHarbor. Those who showed heroism and sacrifice on that day will never be forgotten."

The Twitter post also included an aerial image of the USS Arizona where it sank during the attack that now forms the basis of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. The image also includes the message, "Remembering Pearl Harbor, dedicated to those who make the ultimate sacrifice, Dec. 7, 1941."

The early morning of Dec. 7, 1941 is best recalled for the fighter pilots of the Japanese strike force who attacked the U.S. naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii, according to information from the History.com website.

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison preserves accounts of Wisconsinites present during the attack, including survivors Arthur "Art" Rortvedt of DeForest, Rhoda Ann Ziesler of Manitowoc and Harold "Chief" Schleusner of Bruce. Others Wisconsinites, such as U.S. Navy Firemen 1st Class Malcolm J. Barber, 22 and Leroy K. Barber, 21, with Navy Fireman 2nd Class Randolph H. Barber, 19, the three Barber brothers of New London, died during the attack. The three brothers, among the 429 killed aboard the USS Oklahoma after it was torpedoed and capsized, were for decades missing in action but their remains were identified last summer.

In addition to the 2,403 U.S. personnel and civilians killed during the attack, about 1,000 more were wounded. The attack destroyed or damaged 20 American navy vessels and more than 300 airplanes.

The following day, then Democrat President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave a speech to an emergency joint session of Congress to call for war and referred to the date of the attack as one that will "live in infamy."

"As Commander in Chief of the Army and the Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense," Roosevelt continued in his speech. "But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous will win through to absolute victory. I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us."