On December 7, 1941, Japan attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii ("Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941"). This was during World War II. The United States wasn't in the war yet. But the U. S. should have seen this coming. The day before, on December 6th, Japan launched an attack on Malaya. A couple hours later they attacked Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands, Wake Island, and in the morning, of December 7th, they attacked Midway Island ("Pearl Harbor Attacked").