The first Battle of the Philippines & the Battle of Wake Island were BOTH begun on December 8, 1941 (coinciding with the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941).
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Immediately after Pearl Harbor the Japanese invaded the Philippine Islands, which were defended by Americans and Filipinos. It took the Japanese about five months to completely conquer the Philippines. The Japanese also invaded Wake Island (after first being repulsed in one attempt), and overwhelmed the American garrison there, in December 1941.The first American attack was the invasion of Guadalcanal Island, in the Solomon Islands northeast of Australia, in August 1942. Americans and British troops invaded North Africa in November, 1942.
Americas first battle was at pearl harbour in Hawaii.
Possibly the POW Camp in Bataan, as that was one of the first POW camps for the allies, and one of the first experiences for Japanese forces on the handling of Prisoners of War.
The breaking of Japanese Naval codes gave the Americans first hand knowledge of Japanese intentions as far as targets and times of attack which gave the US Navy time to counter Japanese tactics and strategy .
Japanese-Americans have always been a valuable part of any American war effort. During World War 1, they served as part of the All Japanese Company D unit, First Hawaiian Regiment of Infantry. Japanese Americans were a large portion of Hawaii's population during the time, and stepped forward to enlist willingly. They hoped their enlistment would lead to them gaining American citizenship. Sadly, this did not happen.