65th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway

Aboard the USS Midway Museum in San Diego on June 2, 2007, World War II veterans were honored for their participation in what is considered one of the most important battles of the war. Twenty-seven veterans and their families, along with the families of twelve recently deceased veterans, attended the commemoration of approximately 1,200 people.

It was an "invitation only" event, but by pure chance I happened to become a witness to every aspect of the moving ceremony. What started off as keeping a friend of mine company while he volunteered at the event, led to me drinking wine in the VIP reception section and bumping elbows with war heroes. Veterans with Purple Hearts, Yorktown jackets, and even one with a Medal of Honor, walked by me, sharing stories with family and friends about the battle. I was even lucky enough to sit with one of the families, who were there to honor a man they affectionately called "Tommy", and were eager to talk to me and share their own stories. Unfortunately, "Tommy" departed only a year ago, and couldn't attend the ceremony that his family was sorry he had to miss.

For those unfamiliar with what went on during the Battle of Midway, it was thought of as the turning point of World War II. In the Pacific, not long after the Pearl Harbor attack and the mid-April Doolittle Raid (which was a U.S. attack on Japan's home islands that was a considered an embarrassment to the Japanese Navy), Japanese Combined Fleet commander Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto moved his forces towards the small islands of Midway. He did so as part of a plan to lure in and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet's aircraft carriers. However, his surprise attack was discovered by American communications intelligence long before the battle was joined. With this information, the U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, was able to establish an ambush on the Japanese. During the battle, with a great deal of luck and the skill of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, aviators were able to take four of Japan's fleet carriers. Unfortunately, during the battle, the U.S. suffered the loss of one of its three carriers, as well as severe losses with the U.S. torpedo planes.[i]

"Incredible sacrifices were made at Midway beginning on June 4^th, 1942, and they continued for three days," said retired Rear Admiral John P. McLaughlin, president and chief operating officer of the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum. "The aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, the destroyer USS Hammann, 147 aircraft, and 307 men were all lost during this battle, which ended up being the turning point of World War II."^[ii]

Sitting in the white chairs, with the proud, friendly family remembering their loved one on my left, and my friend that is a Naval Officer on my right, I couldn't help but be moved by the patriotism being displayed throughout the ceremony filled with recognitions, tributes, and thanks to the veterans and those who could not be there. One of the most touching speeches was made by retired Chief Signalman William Schwartz. Schwartz served as a second class petty officer aboard the destroyer USS Russell during the battle, and as soon as he made his way to the podium he was overcome with emotion. He asked that the surviving Midway veterans stand and be applauded, and I smiled as each veteran stood and looked proudly at one another. Afterwards, Schwartz was a full spectrum of emotion, he was thankful, honored, comedic, sad, and seemed truly happy to be with his fellow veterans.

Towards the close of the ceremony, I was able to witness the fly-by spectacle arranged for the veterans, during which an F4F Wildcat, F8F Bearcat, F-18 Super Hornet, and last a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber made their ways across the sky. Seeing the World War II planes flying through the air was amazing, and I felt like I was seeing the history unfold more clearly right before my eyes. At the end of the ceremony, they unveiled a SBD Dauntless as a new member to its extensive museum plane collection.

As the ceremony ended, and I waited for my friend to finish his volunteer duties, I observed all the people and veterans walking around, examining war planes, talking to one another, laughing and smiling, and drinking wine. Several were gathered around a TV that had been set up to display a commemorative DVD, and I joined them in watching it. After showing a brief history of the war, it showed now-and-then pictures of the surviving veterans. I watched photo after photo go by of young, baby faces of 18, 19, and 20 year old boys, smiling in their uniforms, not realizing they would be standing here 65 years later remembering the days when they were a part of history. They were just boys, younger than I am now, and younger than my Naval Officer friend. It was strange to think that boys at that age were dying in planes, trying to destroy Japanese carriers designed to carry thousands of people and equipment. I tried to imagine what that must have been like to have been there, and what it must have been like for their parents, friends, wives and children waiting at home. As we were leaving, the family I had attached myself to commented on how their mother had to have been pregnant with the oldest son, who was there, while "Tommy" was away at war, which again added to my interest of what people were going through at that time. So, on a day where I was just expecting to lay at home and watch TV until I fell asleep, I was given a glimpse into a reality that existed in history, and still exists today. I'm just thankful I was able to be a part of it.

[i] "Battle of Midway, 4-7 June 1942 - Overview and Special Image Selection". Naval Historical Center. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/midway/midway.htm

^[ii] Mass Communication Specialist 1^st Class Brian Brannon, Naval Reserve Fleet Public Affairs Center San Diego. "Battle of Midway Veterans Honored Aboard USS Midway Museum". Navy Newsstand. http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=29866