Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a Western Union Telegram dated December 7th, 1941 and time stamped at 3:54 Eastern time which translates to 10:54 Hawaiian time, less than two hours after the second wave concluded at 9:30am. The Western Union telegram was sent by a wire service reporter of the United Press. It reads:

1941 DEC 7 PM 3 54
JAPANESE PLANES HAVE ATTACKED PHILIPPINE AND HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
AN AMERICAN TRANSPORT SHIP, LOADED WITH LUMBER, HAS BEEN SUNK
1,300 MILES WEST OF SAN FRANCISCO. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
IMMEDIATELY ORDERED THE  ARMY AND NAVY  TO CARRY OUT  WHAT HE
CALLED "PREVIOUSLY PREPARED ORDERS". THE WHITE HOUSE IN
WASHINGTON. SAID NIPPONESE PLANES RAIDED PEARL HARBOR, AMERICA'S GREAT NAVAL BASE IN THE HAWAIIANS, AND THE ARMY AND NAVY BASES AT MANILA, THE CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES.
WASHINGTON HAS NOT ANNOUNCED CASUALTIES OR DAMAGE, BUT
REPORTS INDICATE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN BOTH. MANY JAPANESE PLANES ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN SHOT DOWN. UNITED PRESS SETTING UP 24 HOUR SERVICE ON ALL WIRES. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT PROTECTION WANTED=
UNITED PRESS.

The telegraph covers two pages and also has the original envelope. All are offered in very good condition. Early wire correspondence on December 7th is rare. To read some of the original United Press reporting on Dec 7, 1941 see this link or read below, the first report is heavily related to this telegram.

Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, heavy loss of life; U.S. fleet steams to sea
The United States fleet steamed from Pearl Harbor Sunday after a Japanese dive bomber, torpedo plane and parachute raid on the great American naval and air base, causing heavy loss of life and property damage in an unprovoked assault which precipitated a general war in the Pacific.

Reportedly the sound of gunfire was heard off Oahu and gun flashes were seen.

The White House confirmed reports of heavy damage and casualties in Pearl Harbor and also announced that the navy reported to President Roosevelt an unidentified squadron of airplanes was sighted off Guam.

The White House said it was unable to confirm reports of an attack on Manila.

Reportedly Hawaiian officials have been expecting the attack for about a week and gave the raiders a warm reception.

Attacking planes, several of which were reported shot down, clearly bore the insignia of the rising sun.

Hickam field appeared to be the principal objective, but fires were also started on Ford island in the middle of the harbor.

Reportedly 50 planes attacked later and parachute troops were sighted. However, the parachutists were believed handled.

The National Broadcasting Co. said 350 were killed in a direct bomb hit on Hickam field.

The battleship Oklahoma, according to NBC, was also reported attacked and set afire in Pearl Harbor.

Governor Joseph Poindexter of Hawaii declared a state of emergency and the islands operated under a prearranged plan.

Meanwhile, at Washington President Roosevelt conferred with the cabinet and then summoned congressional leaders. It was believed Mr. Roosevelt was preparing a message to a joint session of congress asking a declaration of war - which was expected to pass as soon as asked.

The navy established censorship immediately on all outgoing cable and radio messages.

Army and navy posts throughout the nation were mobilized. Secretary of War Henry l. Stimson and Secretary of Navy Frank Knox ordered army and navy men to wear uniforms at all times.

Huge fires were raging at Pearl Harbor at 1:10 this afternoon and five navy vessels appeared to have been destroyed in the air raids.

One ship had turned over on its side.

Fires raging on four other warships appeared to be gaining in intensity and they had settled low in the water.

The base itself apparently was extensively damaged in the raids and great clouds of smoke rose above it.

Patrols were scouring the hills above Pearl Harbor for parachute troops reported to have been seen in the vicinity.