Nation Remembers Attack On Pearl Harbor 70 Years Ago

It was a quiet Sunday morning in Hawaii 70 years ago today when hundreds of Japanese warplanes swooped down to attack most of the U.S. Pacific fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor.

The attack would plunge the isolationist-minded United States into World War II.

It was a deadly day for all. Nearly 2400 Americans lost their lives in the attack. Twelve ships were sunk or beached; nine others were damaged. The U.S. lost 164 aircraft. On the Japanese side, 64 died and 29 planes were destroyed.

A day later, President Franklin Roosevelt went before Congress to ask for a declaration of war. Congress approved it within hours.

Survivors will be on hand today to pay homage to those who died.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)