The number of living veterans who fought in World War II is rapidly diminishing.

Tuesday marks the 80th anniversary of the attack that led to the U.S. entering that war, the predawn attack by Japanese bombers on an unsuspecting American military fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The attack claimed the lives of 2,403 Americans, with another 1,178 wounded. There were 169 American planes destroyed and another 159 damaged. Three ships were destroyed and 16 were damaged.

Many Americans today have a keen recollection of the shocking attack by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, but not enough about Pearl Harbor. There are a lot of reasons those two attacks should not be compared.

Both attacks were by enemies of the United States. But the Pearl Harbor incident came closer than any other event in history to potentially destroying our way of life.

Japan was one of the most powerful nations in the world when the attack happened. Also very powerful was another American adversary, Germany.

It’s scary thinking about parallels that exist today in the world that also were present back then. Today, the United States still is considered the most militarily strong nation, but gaining rapid strength are China and Russia, which both have expansion agendas and aggressive attitudes.

The attack on Pearl Harbor hit home immediately. Many local service members were stationed there and for weeks families didn’t know their fate. Communication wasn’t as immediate as it is today.

It was Dec. 16, almost two weeks after the attack, that the family of Joseph Yurko, 32, of Summit Hill, was informed of his death. Yurko had been in the Navy for nearly 15 years before he was killed while a water tender, first class, on the USS Oklahoma.

Yurko was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Yurko. He and his wife lived in Long Beach, California.

Two days later, Mr. and Mrs. John Malatak of Hauto were notified that their son, Pvt. Joseph Malatak of the U.S. Air Corps, was killed at Hickam Field.

Malatak was 25 when he was killed. He graduated from Nesquehoning High School where he played three years of varsity football and basketball.

Just like after 9/11, patriotism swelled by enormous proportions throughout the country. Young men quickly volunteered for military duty to avenge the assault.

Take Lawrence Kimmel Jr. of Lansford, for example. He went to Lansford Bank the day following the attack and transferred his savings to the name of his mother, then laid his last pay down on the bank counter and bought a Defense Bond. He gave that to his mother, too. Two days later, he left for induction into the United States Army.

Of course, the attack by Japan evolved into a war with Germany, too.

The Japanese government as well as the German Nazi leaders were among the most ruthless people in history. Anyone who fought in World War II will tell you that, especially if they had endured time as a prisoner of war. I’ve interviewed several WWII POWs over the years and their tales were heartbreaking and disturbing.

We can’t forget our veterans - especially our World War II veterans. But we must also remain focused on the lessons taught us in that cowardly, crippling attack.

If there’s one lesson learned, it was best stated by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who said, “No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it. There can be no appeasement with ruthlessness. There can be no reasoning with an incendiary bomb.”

Few observances of Pearl Harbor are held today as time marches on.

The Lehighton American Legion annually holds a Pearl Harbor Service each year on the anniversary at the World War II monument along Sergeant Stanley Hoffman Boulevard. Kudos to them for doing this.

Pearly Harbor happened 80 years ago, but it taught us we can’t let down our guard. We must do whatever we can to not let history repeat itself.