Lake County Gazette

A newly elected Illinois state representative has noted the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor in a social media tribute on Dec. 7.

State Rep. Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich) made the tribute during National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which commemorates the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, that ushered the United States into World War II on Dec. 8.

“Today marks the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor,” Bos, who came into office on Jan. 13, posted on Facebook. “On this Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we recognize the bravery of those who were there and honor the heroes we lost. May we never forget Pearl Harbor.” 

With a theme of “Valor, Sacrifice, and Peace,” this year’s National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration continued the remembrance of the 2,403 service members and civilians who were killed during the attack, the National Park Service's page for the Pearl Harbor National Memorial said.

“A further 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships (the USS Arizona and the USS Utah) and destroyed 188 aircraft,” the page said.

Second Lt. John Dains, 21, of Mount Olive, Illinois, a pilot with the 47th Pursuit Squadron, was credited with shooting down the first Japanese fighter on Dec.7, 1941, the Find a Grave website said.

“… on his final mission of the day, he was misidentified by U.S. gunners on the ground and shot down while trying to land his airplane,” Find a Grave said. “.. he was the first U.S. combatant pilot casualty of World War II and the first such ‘friendly fire’ casualty of the war.”

The United States Congress on Aug. 23, 1994, designated that Dec. 7 be National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, the national memorial page said.

In other actions, Bos offered House Joint Resolution 21 to designate a portion of Illinois Route 137 to honor fallen U.S. Army Spc. Wesley Wells from Libertyville, who died in 2004 in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. The Illinois House of Representatives unanimously passed the resolution on May 5, Bos’ website said.