There was debate for several years concerning which shots fired by Americans during the Attack on Pearl Harbor where the first American shots of World War II.
It was found that the first American shots fired (and the first American-caused casualties) actually occurred when USS Ward attacked and sank a Japanese midget submarine.
Contenders
This is a list of those once considered deserving of this distinction.
Doris Miller, an African-American sailor. He took control of an unattended machine gun and used it in defense of the base. He was awarded the Navy Cross.
Bob Warnock, a Sailor on the deck of the submarine,
USS Cachalot (SS-170), when the attack began. After witnessing a Japanese plane torpedo the nearby USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), he fired upon the plane with his sidearm.
