December 7, 1941 - Japanese aircraft attack Pearl Harbor (right). After several years of growing tensions between the United States and Japan over the latter's war in China, the Roosevelt Administration initiated an oil embargo in August 1941. Reliant on the United States for the majority of its oil, the embargo led the Japanese to begin planning operations to capture the Dutch East Indies. Believing that the US Pacific Fleet posed a threat to this plan, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto began planning for an attack on Pearl Harbor. Approved by the Emperor Hirohito, the attack force sailed on November 26. Arriving near Oahu on December 7, the Japanese carriers launched two attack waves which sank or damaged 21 ships, including all eight of the Pacific Fleet's battleships. Dubbed a "date which will live in infamy," the attack brought the United States into World War II and united the nation behind the war effort.

Photograph Coutesy of the US Naval History & Heritage Command

December 5, 1757 - Prussian forces under Frederick the Great (right) win the Battle of Leuthen. Returning east after his decisive victory at Rossbach, Frederick sought to expel the Austrians from Silesia before winter. Though badly outnumbered, Frederick advanced on the army of Prince Charles of Lorraine. Spotting a weakness on the Austrian left flank, he sent forward part of his army to fix the enemy in place, then marched the bulk of his army behind a chain of hills to remain undetected. Reaching the Austrian left, his men attacked, taking a key hill and rolling up the enemy line. Though Charles attempted to reform his lines, he was not able to hold off the Prussian assaults that continued through the day. With evening approaching, both of the Austrian flanks collapsed and Charles' army fled the field. A masterpiece of maneuver warfare, Leuthen was one of Frederick's most stunning victories. Was this Frederick's greatest triumph?

Photograph Source: Public Domain

December 3, 1826 - Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan (right) in born in Philadelphia. A veteran of the Mexican-American War, McClellan quickly gained notice during the Civil War for several minor victories in western Virginia. Elevated to lead Union forces around Washington, he proved a superb organizer and created the Army of the Potomac. A cautious and timid field commander, he often believed that he was outnumbered and frequently clashed with Pres. Abraham Lincoln. Defeated on the Peninsula in the summer of 1862, he failed to crush Gen. Robert E. Lee at Antietam that September. Relieved in November, "Little Mac" ran for president in 1864, but was defeated by Lincoln. Where does McClellan rank on your list of Civil War commanders?

Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives & Records Administration

December 2, 1738 - Maj. Gen. Richard Montgomery (right) is born in Ireland. The son of a British officer, Montgomery entered the military in 1756 rather than finish his studies at Trinity College. A skilled officer, he served with distinction in the 1758 siege of Louisbourg and capture of Fort Ticonderoga. After participating in campaigns in the Caribbean and battling Pontiac's Rebellion, he left the army in 1772 when his Whig political leanings began to hurt his career. Moving to New York, he became a supporter of the American cause. With the outbreak of the American Revolution, he was made a brigadier general in Continental service. Initially Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler's deputy, he led the American invasion of Canada in late 1775 and captured Montreal. Moving east, he was killed in the Battle of Quebec. A promising officer, Washington described his death as a "heavy loss." Had he lived, would the attack on Quebec succeeded?

Photograph Source: Public Domain