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The Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. This leads to the U.S. arrival in World War II where they take the side of the Allies.
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From December 10- 22, 1941- Japan invades the Philippines, Guam, Burma, British Borneo, Hong Kong, and Luzon in the Philippines. During this time the First Japanese merchant ship is sunk by a U.S. submarine.
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War Relocation Authority established in the U,S.which eventually rounded up 120,000 Japanese- Americans. The Japanese- Americans were transported to barb- wired relocation centers.
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The Allied Forces were able to invade. They took over the Tulagi Port.
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The Japanese and Allies launch air attackes on one another. Japanese prepare to invade Midway and the Aleutian Islands.
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Japan suffers its first defeat of the war during the Battle of the Coral Sea off New Guinea. The first time in history that two opposing carrier forces fought only using aircraft without the opposing ships ever sighting each other.
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Japan sank Lexington and Yorktown and the U.S. took down Shokaku. Japan suffers huge losses, so they turn around and the invasion of Port Moresby failed.The Battle of Coral Sea initially ends.
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The turning point in the war occurs with a victory for the U.S against Japan in the Battle of Midway. The U.S. torpedo planes and dive bombers attack and destroy four Japanese carriers, a cruiser, and damage other Japanese destroyers. The U.S. lose Yorktown.
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A major U.S. naval disaster off Savo Island as eight Japanese warships wage a night attack and sink three U.S. heavy cruisers, an Australian cruiser, and one U.S. destroyer, all in less than an hour. Another U.S. cruiser and two destroyers are damaged. Over 1,500 Allied crewmen are lost.
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U.S. and Japanese warships clash again off Guadalcanal. As a result of the sinking of the U.S. Cruiser JUNEAU and the deaths of the five Sullivan brothers.
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U.S. code breakers pinpoint the location of Japanese Admiral Yamamoto flying in a Japanese bomber near Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Eighteen P-38 fighters then locate and shoot down Yamamoto.
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A group of 15 U.S. PT-boats attempt to block Japanese convoys south of Kolombangra Island in the Solomon Islands. PT-109, commanded by Lt. John F. Kennedy, is rammed and sunk by the Japanese Cruiser AMAGIRI, killing two and badly injuring others. The crew survives as Kennedy aids one badly injured man by towing him to a nearby atoll.