Active duty, retired service members and civilians paid honor to Battle of Midway veterans during a ceremony Saturday aboard the USS Midway Museum in San Diego.
The battle took place 73 years ago, over June 4-7, 1942. During the battle, three American aircraft carriers defeated a larger Imperial Japanese fleet, sinking four enemy carriers and preventing the capture of Midway Island.
The Battle of Midway changed the course of World War II in the Pacific. Military historian John Keegan called the battle “the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare.” It also proved the importance of aircraft carriers.
“Aircraft Carriers remain the critical centerpiece in our nation’s defense,” said Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander or Naval air forces. “Although I believe it’s important for us to recognize and appreciate what these magnificent warships have done and can do from World War II to today, it’s really the sailors who man these ships and bring them to life”.
During the ceremony military and civilian leaders honored the surviving veterans, along with family and friends of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, for their extraordinary service 73 years ago.
“It’s the people we celebrate tonight, our former sailors and service members, collectively they were the reason for our success at Midway,” said Shoemaker.
While delivering the keynote address, retired Vice Adm. Jim Zortman spoke of the importance of the victory at Midway and the importance of the aircraft carrier.
“The victory at Midway marked the high water mark and the end of Japanese expansion in the Pacific”, said Zortman. “The aircraft carrier definitively took its place central to naval strategy and tactics. Today, 73 years later, that has not changed. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers remain essential to the projection of power and to keeping the peace.”
Zortman spoke about the technological changes in today’s carriers in comparison to the carriers of 1942. He highlighted USS Carl Vinson’s recent return from a nearly 10-month deployment where Vinson participated in both combat and humanitarian operations but pointed out that it’s the sailors’ camaraderie, sense of community and intrinsic spirit that make the U.S. Navy sailor special and not the hardware.
“It’s the spirit that brought victory at Midway and it’s why Vinson could do what she does today,” he said.
Zortman thanked the surviving Midway veterans who were all seated in the front row, saying, “We wouldn’t be here tonight if it wasn’t for you and we should never forget that and we never will.”
