Since I posted on this blog, a few days ago, an entry on Torpedo Squadron 8, I have recieves some emails from Nancy of McMinnville whose uncle was one of the men who died when the U.S. Navy torpedo bombers attacked the Japanese aircraft carriers and all but one crew members died in the attack when they were shot down by the Japanese.
A brief summary of the battle from Wikipedia:
The Battle of Midway was a naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It took place from June 4, 1942 to June 7, 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea, about five months after the Japanese capture of Wake Island, and six months after the Empire of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor that had led to a formal state of war between the United States and Japan. During the battle, the United States Navy defeated a Japanese attack against Midway Atoll, losing one aircraft carrier and one destroyer, while destroying four Japanese carriers and a heavy cruiser.(To read more click on the title for a link)
The battle was a decisive victory for the Americans, widely regarded as the most important naval engagement of the Pacific Campaign of World War II
The Japanese plan of attack was to lure America's remaining carriers into a trap and sink them.[4] The Japanese also intended to occupy Midway Atoll to extend Japan's defensive perimeter farther from its home islands. This operation was considered preparatory for further attacks against Fiji and Samoa, as well as an invasion of Hawaii
Nancy of McMinnville was kind to share some pictures she took when she visited Midway Island as part of the 65th year commemoration of the battle. She also has one of the original copies of the documentary movie director John Ford made for the families of the members of Torpedo Squadron 8.
She also suggested two good books on the battle of Midway:
If you're ever interested in reading about the BOM, a couple good starter books are Midway: The Incredible Victory by Walter Lord. The foreword of that book contains the famous quote "They had no right to win. Yet they did...." It's engraved on one of the monuments at Midway, and it was thrilling to see it in person.
The second book is A Glorious Page in Our History by Robert J. Cressman, Steve Ewing, and a few other guys.
Thanks, Nancy.... people like your uncle who died at Midway have kept us free.
