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Odd bits of history related to this date.

1. FDR was suffering from severe sinus infection at the time. He asked the White House Doctor to give him something to clear it up so he could make the speech to Congress. The only drug available at the time was administered. The drug of choice was cocaine.

2. A few years back I think NPR was doing a retrospective on 7 Dec. They interviewed a survivor. He observed he had a bumper sticker that said, "Pearl Harbor Survivor." His car was a Mitsubishi.

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I have been curious as to why Nagumo did not launch the additional waves necessary to cripple Pearls base facilities. I understand that he was concerned about the stiffening resistance and that he did not know where the American carriers were, but come on you sail half way across the Pacific and you cannot stay a few extra hours to finish the job? As Napoleon said if you set out to take Vienna, take Vienna

It's even more curious given the IJN all in on Mahan in addition to its Samuel ethic. I also think of Letters Gulf when the IJN did all it could to risk a decisive battle but then failed to risk in the face of Taffy 3.

Do you know of any good works on this seeming inconistency in IJN tactics?

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