On Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese war planes attacked Pearl Harbor, the forward base for the United States in the Pacific, effectively drawing the United States into war with Japan.  This picture, widely publicized in the United States, illustrates the extent of the physical destruction.  The sinking battleship is the USS West Virginia.  The crew of the motorboat in the foreground is attempting to save sailors in the water.  The official battle report, submitted on December 11, 1941, can be a useful source document for classroom use.  The sinking of the USS West Virginia resulted in the death of 106 crewmen.

Credit: Donated by Corbis-Bettmann