Year Of War In America Shock Of Pearl Harbor Awakened U. S. First Months Of War Were Filled With Disappointment A year of war A year of heroism of sacrifices of death and of glory. From December, 1941, to December, 1942, has been one of the most eventful years in the history of the United States in the history of the world. During that year the United States has suffered some of its greatest military defeats, yet at the same time the fighting men of America have written into the headlines of history some of the worlds bravest deeds. Daily during the past hectic year The Deseret News has chronicled the world shIking events of a nation at war. For 14 horrible days and nights a handful of marines on Wake Island held off hordes of Japanese. From January until Aprilmore than three months United States fighting men in the foxholes of Bataan held out against Jap forces far superior in strength, but far weaker in spirit. The men and women on Bataan held out against the Japanese while other great Allied strongholds Hongkong, Singapore, Rangoon, Java fell before the power of the Japanese war machine. Corregidor held out for almost another month after Bataan had fallen. Such stories need no adjectives to describe them, for there are no adjectives descriptive enough to tell of the heroism and sacrifices of the U. S. fighting men of Wake Island, Bataan, Corregidor, Midway and the Solomons. History has been written in headlines during the past year. Here The Christmas News presents a review of those headlines, a blow by blow account of the United States first year in World War II. December Dec. 7, 1941 A day that will live in infamy. On a peaceful Sunday morning Japanese planes bombed and strafed U. S. army and naval installations at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, bring the United States into the world conflict which it had successfully avoided for more than two years. Dec. 8 U. S. and Britain declare war against .Japan. Acting without debate, Congress, with but one dissenting vote, takes immediate action on President Roosevelts request for an answer to Japans unprovoked and dastardly attack. Miss Jeannette Rankin (R Mont.) cast the only vote against the declaration of war. President Roosevelt signed the document at 4:10 p.m. The White House announced that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had resulted in the capsizing of an old battleship, the destruction of a destroyer, damage to other vessels and destruction of a relatively large number of planes. Casualties probably would mount to 3,000, according to the announcement. Japan attacks against Nichols Air Field in the Philippines are renewed. Dec. 9 New York and Boston have two air raid alarms, San Francisco blacks out as unidentified planes are reported overhead. Rep. Dingell (D Mieh.) demands court martial proceedings against high ranking army officers and the commander of the Pacific Fleet for what happened in Hawaii. Dec. 10 American soil invaded for the first time since 18I2 as Japanese make a landing on the north end of Luzon Island in t lie Philippines. President Roosevelt claims U. S. still retains sea control, denying Japanese statements that U. S. fleet was crippled at Pearl Harbor. President warns people of long war ahead. Dec. 11. U. S. declares war on Germany, Italy following similar declarations by these two countries against the United States. The historic stand of Wake Island now two days old as the navy announces that four separate attacks had been repulsed by the marines, who sank a light cruiser and a destroyer. Jap parachutists seize airport in east Luzon. Dec. 12 Congress speeds new draft bill to cover men from 18 to 65. Wake Island still holds out. Russ spurn Nazi peace feeler, pledge light to finish. Capt. Mervyn Sharp Bennion of Salt Lake listed as killed in action during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Dec. 11 Japs wiped out in West Luzon, further Nippon landings are blocked. Japanese forces make gains on Malayan Peninsula in advance toward Singapore. BAD NEWS COMES HOME Dec. 15 Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox announced that six warships the battleship Arizona, the target ship Utah, three destroyers and a mine layer were destroyed at Pearl Harbor, and 2,720 navy officers and men were killed. Japs pound Hongkong as British retreat. Dec. 16 British advance in Libya. U. S. bombers pound Japanese transports off Luzon. Wake Island marines, asked if there is anything they want, reply: Send us some more Japs. Dec. 17 Nazis fall hack on Russian front. .Taps land on northwest coast of Borneo. Dec. 18 Admiral Chester W. Nimitz named commander of the Pacific Fleet, succeeding Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, who was releived of his command pending the outcome of an investigation into the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor. Dec. in Congress sets military draft age from 20 to 45, requires registration of all men from 18 to 65. Hongkong resistance continues. Ninth Corps Area officers are transferred from San Francisco to Salt Lake City. Dec. 20 Admiral Ernest J. King elevated to command of the