The major event that took place at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was a surprise military attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base located in Hawaii. The attack led to significant damage to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, destroying numerous battleships and aircraft. It resulted in the deaths of over 2,400 American servicemen and civilians. This event propelled the United States into World War II, as it marked the official entry of the country into the global conflict after years of isolationist policy. The attack is famously remembered as a "day that will live in infamy."