Dec. 7, 1941

Memories may fade, but the impressions some leave behind are infused into the minds of a nation.

Such is the case with the attack on Pearl Harbor.

While Dec. 7, 1941, survives “as a date which will live in infamy,” resonating in the minds of Americans as the beginning of World War II for the U.S., author and UCI professor Emily Rosenberg wrote a book taking the American perspective and memory beyond the usual history.

“Pearl Harbor is a highly symbolic event, an iconic event,” said Rosenberg, whose book, “A Day Which Will Live: Pearl Harbor in American Memory,” was published in 2003. “Pearl Harbor for so long was a central image that conveyed a sense of fear and danger about enemies, and that, to some extent, that symbolism has been supplanted with the images of 9/11.”

Rosenberg notes in her opening chapter how President Franklin Delano Roosevelt omitted the words “world history” from his historic speech to Congress and replaced those words with “infamy.” This, Rosenberg argues, was part of the beginning of a connection of American incidents that now live as tragic yet rallying symbols.

“Pearl Harbor became a symbol that supplanted an earlier value seen in Custer’s Last Stand,” Rosenberg said. “It’s a familiar story in American culture of being surprised and besieged by evil others and overcoming for victory.”

It is that symbolic framing of the historic event that has shaped the lenses with which Americans study the violent attack and the beliefs they use to mold memories. But Pearl Harbor has and will continue to take on less prominence as 9/11 establishes itself as a more recent symbol of the country rallying to overcome evil. Still, the memory of Pearl Harbor, just like Custer’s Last Stand or the Alamo, will not be lost because of its still resounding familiarity in American culture and the various lessons it taught.

The ripple effect caused by Pearl Harbor is noted academically and historically. It led to the United States entering WWII and also brought into focus the need for a strong military, foreign intelligence and readiness for the threat of violence.

Aided by the haze of time, as well as the need to match beliefs with tangible memories or events, conspiracy theories surrounding Pearl Harbor such as the “back door to war,” where Roosevelt allegedly knew of the attack but allowed it to happen due to his desire to go war, allow for implantation of cultural beliefs into history.

Rosenberg notes most academics reject the “back door” theory, but its impact culturally was important because it represents “an executive who was powerful and deceptive,” as well as the “growth of big government” to some Americans.

But Rosenberg is also quick to point out how Americans can turn these tragic memories into heroic grounds that are the root of victory.

She notes many factors that create these heroic symbols — such as Tom Brokaw’s “greatest generation” label and movies such as 2001’s “Pearl Harbor” — spawn pop culture phenomena.

For example, Americans often relate Pearl Harbor to being the start of WWII and the awaking of a “sleeping giant.” But for many other countries, and even some Americans, the war had been fought far before Dec. 7, 1941.

“Everybody likes a comeback story,” said Rosenberg, who was quick to mention she doesn’t mean to take away from the heroism of those who fought at Pearl Harbor and in WWII.

LOSSES IN PEARL HARBOR

 2,388 killed;

1,178 wounded

 Ships: 12 sank or beached;

9 damaged

 Aircraft: 164 destroyed;

159 damaged

 1,177 of those killed were sailors and Marines serving aboard the USS Arizona.

— Information according to the USS Arizona Memorial, National Park Service

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at daniel.tedford@latimes.com.