thedrifter
06-10-06, 06:04 AM
Battle of Midway Sailors and Marines Honored Aboard Namesake Ship
Friday, June 09, 2006
By JO2 Adrian Melendez - Navy Compass
"We stand in the company of men who remember Midway not only as a heroic victory, but also as the bloody ferocious fight for freedom that it was."
These were the words of the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Mike Mullen, as he stood before a crowd of more than 1,200 guest at the Battle of Midway ceremony aboard the flight deck of the Midway Museum in San Diego, June 3.
"I can't think of a more fitting venue than the Midway Museum for this event," said Vice Adm. James Zortman, Commander, Naval Air Forces.
The ceremony marked the 64th anniversary of the battle, in which the smaller U.S. Navy sank four Japanese aircraft carriers, three destroyers and two cruisers.
Fifteen veterans of the battle were also honored at the ceremony for their sacrifice and heroism during the historic fight.
"We are fortunate this evening to be in the company of the brave Navy and Marine Corps heroes and all their families whose courage and commitment brought great honor to our Navy and to our entire nation," said Scott McGaugh, Midway Museum marketing director.
Along with speeches from Mullen and Zortman, Midway veteran Kenneth Weaver shared his experience and memories of the battle to the crowd.
Weaver, an Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st class aboard USS Enterprise (CV 6), said he remembered the words of wisdom from Adm. Raymond Spruance, Commander, Task Force 16, as they steamed from Pearl Harbor on their way to Midway.
"He told us that they were about to meet the enemy," said Weaver. "He said that we would be the underdogs because our forces were out numbered three to one. But he reminded us we were well trained and up to the challenge. I'm so proud of what we were able to do that day."
Howard Dickerson was a navigator aboard a PBY Catalina aircraft attached to Patrol Squadron (VP) 23 out of Midway and vividly remembers his experience June 4, 1942.
We were on patrol from Midway were on our way back to the island when a call over the radio came in and told the us to go see what was going on with the Japanese ships," said Dickerson. "When we got to where the battle was there were three Japanese carriers burning from one end to the other that were floating about five to 10 miles apart."
It was then that the crew noticed Japanese ships were traveling north of Midway and they decided to follow the fleet to keep track of them. It was while they were following the retreating ships that a Japanese Zero gave the Catalina crew an unwelcoming surprise.
Dickerson said that the Zero seemed to come out of no where and was soon firing on their aircraft.
"We had two .50 caliber guns in the back so we traded shots to each others wings," said Dickerson.
After trading volleys of lead for a while the Zero pulled off the Catalina and retreated.
It was then that the Dickerson and the crew decided to head back to the island.
While flying for a while the crew figured they should have seen the island by then and radioed in to get an idea on their position to the airfield.
"We couldn't find the island and we ended up running out of fuel," said Dickerson.
Their only option was to land the seaplane in the water and wait for rescue.
They launched a small float light from the plane and attempted a sea landing in the pitch black night.
"You don't get flood lights out there, all you have is a little light in the middle of the ocean for reference. We must have bounced five times when we hit the water before we stopped," said Dickerson. "After we got down I felt like a million dollars. We were up in the air for about 17 hours."
But the troubles weren't over yet. Dickerson noticed water coming in to the plane from the numerous bullet holes in the bottom of the aircraft. They had little time to find a way to plug all the holes before they would have to spend the night floating around in the Pacific.
"We had to plug them before more water started coming in," said Dickerson. "We used sharpened pencils and shoved them in the holes to stay afloat. We must have went through over 20 of those things."
The next morning USS Monaghan (DD 354) came to pick up the stranded crew and take them back to Midway.
Mullen said that it's the sacrifices and experiences such as Dickerson's, Weavers and all the service members who fought in the battle of Midway that reflect on the service today as well as the world as a whole.
"To all you here from World War II, we know that we owe you for the freedoms we enjoy today," said Mullen. "And that legacy grows stronger with each passing year. You understood that this country is more safe and secure when others are free.
We look to their courage, to their determination and their commitment. Our brave men and women in the service today are doing just that."
Ellie
Friday, June 09, 2006
By JO2 Adrian Melendez - Navy Compass
"We stand in the company of men who remember Midway not only as a heroic victory, but also as the bloody ferocious fight for freedom that it was."
These were the words of the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Mike Mullen, as he stood before a crowd of more than 1,200 guest at the Battle of Midway ceremony aboard the flight deck of the Midway Museum in San Diego, June 3.
"I can't think of a more fitting venue than the Midway Museum for this event," said Vice Adm. James Zortman, Commander, Naval Air Forces.
The ceremony marked the 64th anniversary of the battle, in which the smaller U.S. Navy sank four Japanese aircraft carriers, three destroyers and two cruisers.
Fifteen veterans of the battle were also honored at the ceremony for their sacrifice and heroism during the historic fight.
"We are fortunate this evening to be in the company of the brave Navy and Marine Corps heroes and all their families whose courage and commitment brought great honor to our Navy and to our entire nation," said Scott McGaugh, Midway Museum marketing director.
Along with speeches from Mullen and Zortman, Midway veteran Kenneth Weaver shared his experience and memories of the battle to the crowd.
Weaver, an Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st class aboard USS Enterprise (CV 6), said he remembered the words of wisdom from Adm. Raymond Spruance, Commander, Task Force 16, as they steamed from Pearl Harbor on their way to Midway.
"He told us that they were about to meet the enemy," said Weaver. "He said that we would be the underdogs because our forces were out numbered three to one. But he reminded us we were well trained and up to the challenge. I'm so proud of what we were able to do that day."
Howard Dickerson was a navigator aboard a PBY Catalina aircraft attached to Patrol Squadron (VP) 23 out of Midway and vividly remembers his experience June 4, 1942.
We were on patrol from Midway were on our way back to the island when a call over the radio came in and told the us to go see what was going on with the Japanese ships," said Dickerson. "When we got to where the battle was there were three Japanese carriers burning from one end to the other that were floating about five to 10 miles apart."
It was then that the crew noticed Japanese ships were traveling north of Midway and they decided to follow the fleet to keep track of them. It was while they were following the retreating ships that a Japanese Zero gave the Catalina crew an unwelcoming surprise.
Dickerson said that the Zero seemed to come out of no where and was soon firing on their aircraft.
"We had two .50 caliber guns in the back so we traded shots to each others wings," said Dickerson.
After trading volleys of lead for a while the Zero pulled off the Catalina and retreated.
It was then that the Dickerson and the crew decided to head back to the island.
While flying for a while the crew figured they should have seen the island by then and radioed in to get an idea on their position to the airfield.
"We couldn't find the island and we ended up running out of fuel," said Dickerson.
Their only option was to land the seaplane in the water and wait for rescue.
They launched a small float light from the plane and attempted a sea landing in the pitch black night.
"You don't get flood lights out there, all you have is a little light in the middle of the ocean for reference. We must have bounced five times when we hit the water before we stopped," said Dickerson. "After we got down I felt like a million dollars. We were up in the air for about 17 hours."
But the troubles weren't over yet. Dickerson noticed water coming in to the plane from the numerous bullet holes in the bottom of the aircraft. They had little time to find a way to plug all the holes before they would have to spend the night floating around in the Pacific.
"We had to plug them before more water started coming in," said Dickerson. "We used sharpened pencils and shoved them in the holes to stay afloat. We must have went through over 20 of those things."
The next morning USS Monaghan (DD 354) came to pick up the stranded crew and take them back to Midway.
Mullen said that it's the sacrifices and experiences such as Dickerson's, Weavers and all the service members who fought in the battle of Midway that reflect on the service today as well as the world as a whole.
"To all you here from World War II, we know that we owe you for the freedoms we enjoy today," said Mullen. "And that legacy grows stronger with each passing year. You understood that this country is more safe and secure when others are free.
We look to their courage, to their determination and their commitment. Our brave men and women in the service today are doing just that."
Ellie