-
Trade Sanctions/Embargo
U.S. imposes trade sanctions and an embargo. This was aimed at curbing Japan's military aggression in Asia. -
Japanese Communication
Adm. Yamamoto begins communicating with other Japanese officers. They talk about a possible attack on Pearl Harbor. -
Surprise Attack
Joseph C. Grew, the U.S. ambassador to Japan tells Washington that Japan is planning a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. No one in Washington believes the information. -
Commanding
Adm. Husband E. Kimmel commands to prepare for the defense of the islands. They ask Washington for additional men and equipment for a proper defense of military instillations. -
Monitoring
U.S. intelligence officers monitor Japanese secret messages. In a program code-named Magic, U.S. intelligence uses a machine to decode Japan's diplomatic dispatches. -
Message Traffic
Japanese Adm. Nomura tells his superiors that he has learned Americans were reading his message traffic. No one in Tokyo believes the code could have been broken. The code is not changed. -
Finalization
During the summer Adm. Yamamoto trains his forces. He also finalizes the planning of the attack on Pearl Harbor. -
Bomb Plot
A "bomb plot" message from Japanese naval intelligence to Japan's general requested a grid of exact locations of ships in Pearl Harbor (deciphered). The information is not shared with the Hawaii's Adm. Kimmel and General Short. -
Assistance
Tokyo sends an experienced diplomat to Washington to assist Ambassador Kichisaburo Nomura. He continues to seek a diplomatic solution. -
Submarines
Submarines depart Japan and head to their destination. Submarines were the first units involved in the attack. -
Hawaii
Aircraft carriers and escorts begin the transit to Hawaii. They do this silently and undercover. -
War Warning
Kimmel and Short receive a "war warning" from Washington speaking of a Japanese attack. It could have possibly been on an American target in the Pacific. -
Surprise Attack
U.S. decodes a message as a deadline for a Japanese action. The message is delivered to the Washington high command. Washington time, more than 4 hours before the attack on Pearl Harbor. But the message is not forwarded to the Pearl Harbor commanders and finally arrives only after the attack has begun. The first wave of Japanese aircraft begin the attack along with ships in Pearl Harbor. -
Declaration of War
President Roosevelt addresses Congress. He asks for a declaration of war against Japan. He receives one too. -
Relieve
Adm. Kimmel and Gen. Short are relieved of their commands. They are free of missions and can do as they please. -
Off-Duty
The Roberts Commission finds Kimmel and Short off duty. They are responsible for the Pearl Harbor disaster. -
Information
Capt. Laurence Safford discovers officials in Washington. They kept secret information from Kimmel and Short. -
Support
A Naval Court finds Kimmel had acted appropriately given what he knew. The Chief of Naval Operations overrules the court. Saying that if Kimmel knew things he might have discovered the Japanese fleet 250 miles off Hawaii. -
Investigation
A Defense Department investigation finds others responsible with Kimmel and Short for the Pearl Harbor disaster. It does not say who those the "others" are. -
Persuading
An amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act of 2001 finds Kimmel and Short acted professionally. They urge the president to restore the officers to their highest WWII rank.
