As World War II raged on and America had not yet gotten involved, it is believed that President Franklin D. Roosevelt was eager to send troops into the fray.
However, by November of 1941 the Japanese had still not attacked the United States, so the president had to convince Congress to declare war against the Axis when they had done nothing directly against them.
It was during these days that Admiral Harold Stark, Commander of the US Fleet in Asia, received a puzzling secret presidential directive.
The letter contained orders to prepare three old Navy vessels and send them to an area infested with over 50 Japanese warships. The intention being to provoke an incident that would justify declaring war against the Empire of Japan.
Stark immediately realized it could be a one-way mission for the Navy crews, but he had no choice but to obey.
