Guest Editorial: Remember those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor, and in the days that followed

By Wes Eubanks
Meeker VFW Post 5843
Special to the Herald Times
RBC | Every year since that fateful day Americans have honored the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. We remember also the survivors who would bear terrible scars both physical and mental. We remember their families: moms, dads, wives, sons and daughters who lost loved ones.
Two-thousand, four-hundred and three Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded.
I believe we should also remember that the attack on our military forces in Hawaii was not the only fought that day.
During the next seven hours there were coordinated attacks on the U.S. forces at the Philippines, Guam and Wake Island.
Guam
U.S. Marine losses were 13 dead and 37 wounded. The U.S. Navy lost eight killed while four of the Guam Insular Force Guards were killed and 22 others wounded. Six soldiers were killed after the surrender. Thirteen American civilians were killed during the battle.
Wake Island
Fifty-two killed, 49 wounded and two missing. At least 70 U.S. civilians were killed. One-thousand, one hundred and four civilians were interned, of whom 180 died in captivity.
Philippines
8 December 1941—8 May 1942
Twenty-three thousand American military personnel were killed or captured and Filipino soldiers killed or captured totaled around 100,000.