MIDWAY ATOLL (Pacnews) — As the nation faces another war, Americans should look to a decisive battle 60 years ago when the Pacific Fleet was able to turn the tide following the demoralizing defeat at Pearl Harbor, a key Interior Department official said to mark the 60th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Midway.
During the battle, the U.S Navy destroyed major elements of the Japanese fleet, just six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Referring to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, H. Craig Manson, assistant secretary of the interior, said, “If, as some say, we have experienced another Pearl Harbor, we must recognize that there will be another Midway.”
Manson was one of the speakers at the 60th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Midway, where the U.S. Navy destroyed the major elements of the Japanese fleet just six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1943.
Manson said one of the lessons of the naval battle that took place about 250 miles north of this 5-mile-long atoll is that “we must persevere with the same courage, integrity and selfless service in the decisive battle yet to come.”
Speaking directly to five veterans of the Battle of Midway — which took place June 4-6, 1942 — Manson added: “We need always to be vigilant. This is one of the lessons you have taught us. This is the gift of the sacrifice of Midway.”
Rear Adm. Anthony L. Winns also emphasized the Midway legacy, said “We humbly honor those sailors and Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation 60 years ago.”
On June 4, 1942, the Japanese — which boasted the largest carrier task force in the world — launched a strike at Midway. It was supposed to have been the next move in the plans to take the Hawaiian Islands. The Japanese had hoped to lure the Pacific Fleet into a false sense of security by a feint attack with two light carriers on the Aleutian Islands off Alaska while its four major carriers struck Midway. The Japanese had hoped to lure the Pacific Fleet into a trap.
However, U.S. naval intelligence had broken the Japanese code in May 1942, and Adm. Chester Nimitz sent three carriers — Hornet, Enterprise and Yorktown — to Midway in search of the enemy fleet.
Early on June 4, 1942, 108 planes from four Japanese carriers attacked Midway but left its runway intact.
Although the initial counterattack of U.S. attack planes on the Japanese carriers was nearly wiped out, it did draw off enemy fighters, leaving the skies open for later waves of U.S. dive bombers.
