Historical accuracy.

• Author: Capon, Leonard E.
• Position: Readers' Forum - Letter to the editor

In reference to the STEM news article which appeared in January 2013 (p.38), the piece quotes from an October 2012 report, "Assuring the U.S. Department of Defense a Strong Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Workforce." The writer comments: "Throughout history, conflict has come at often surprising times. ... The report cited the murder of Archduke Ferdinand and the attack on Pearl Harbor as two unpredictable events that started World War I and World War II respectively."

World War II did not start with the attack on Pearl Harbor. World War II began Sept. 1, 1939, when German military forces attacked Poland. By the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor...