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JB MDL commemorates victory at Midway

  • Published
  • By Pascual Flores
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  More than 300 military and community members gathered at Lakehurst June 3 to attend a ceremony commemorating the 74th anniversary of the Battle of Midway.

The ceremony honored the Sailors, Soldiers and Marines who displayed courage, sacrifice and heroism in the Pacific during World War II.

"Seventy four years ago today, a special day for the Navy and in our history, the battle in the Pacific was very much in doubt," said U.S. Navy Capt. Christopher Bergen, Naval Support Activity Lakehurst commander and Joint Base Deputy Commander Navy. "Indecisions, poor communications, inaccurate reporting on both sides, let the outcome in doubt.

The Battle of Midway took place June 4-7, 1942, against a superior Japanese naval carrier force.

"At the end of the battle, American Carrier Aviation had succeeded in stopping the Japanese advance in the Pacific," Bergen said. "Midway is known as the turning point in the Pacific Theater."

Four Japanese carriers were destroyed along with 25 percent of their aircrews and 40 percent of their maintainers, according to Bergen. The balance of sea power in the Pacific shifted from the Japanese to the U.S. immediately after the battle. It took the Japanese another two years to commission one heavy aircraft carrier, and during the same time, the United States commissioned a dozen heavy aircraft carriers and escort carriers.

"The victory at Midway was made possible by three important elements: first, the hard work of the shipyard workers who went to Hawaii to make repairs on the carrier Yorktown that sustained damage at the Battle of Coral Sea, making her battle and sea worthy within three days, when originally they were told it would take three months," Bergen said. "Secondly, naval intelligence that cracked the code that told of where the Japanese fleet was going, and finally, but most important, it was the attitude and spirit of the attack that brought us victory at Midway."

The U.S. suffered 307 casualties, and lost 150 aircraft, a carrier and destroyer.

"Take a moment to pause and remember those brave aviators and service members that we lost and remember, their path blazed our way today," said Bergan.

During the ceremony, taps was played and a wreath was dedicated to the memory of all those who served and those who died during this historic naval battle.

"Let it be known that this wreath and wreaths being laid around the world are in honor of the Midway veterans," said Chief Petty Officer Raymond Rizzo, event's master of ceremony. "We pause to remember and honor the spirit of Midway and our Navy and our nation. We pause to honor all those who served and are serving with honor, courage and commitment."

Ironically, the four Japanese aircraft carriers sunk in the Battle of Midway were all part of the six-carrier force that attacked Pearl Harbor six-months earlier.

"As a carrier aviator today, I know that I stand on the shoulders of the brave men that blazed that path forward," said Bergen. "It was their courage, can do attitude and spirit of attack that lead to the victory at Midway and that's why we remember them today."