Photo By Sgt. Kenneth Tucceri | The flag from each state, held by Marines and Sailors, formed a colorful and patriotic...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Along with naval stations around the world, GTMO paid tribute to the spirit of WWII’s Battle of Midway Wednesday, June 4 by laying a wreath into the water at Ferry Landing during a ceremony to commemorate the brave service members who fought in one of the Navy’s greatest victories.
On June 4, 1942, just six months after the infamous ambush on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese were planning to take the island of Midway, located in the North Pacific Ocean.
Largely due to code breakers, who were able to figure out the date and time of the attack, and the Japanese underestimating the U.S.’s ability to react, Japan suffered a great defeat that changed the tides of the war, despite outnumbering the U.S. forces.
“Many great historians refer to the Battle of Midway as an incredible victory and a miracle,” said Navy Capt. John R. Nettleton, GTMO’s commander. “After all, the United States, with only 26 ships, took on 159 ships of the imperial Japanese navy. At that time, the Japanese were on top of the world [and] had yet to suffer a setback. By any standard, our brave forces were outclassed and outnumbered. We had no battleships, and the enemy had 11. We only had three carriers, they had eight.”
Bridging the gap between “the greatest generation” and the contemporary military, Nettleton orated a complimentary comparison of service members then and now.
“Most of the young men who fought at Midway were not that much different from each of you sitting out there and those of you standing behind me,” said Nettleton. “They came from towns, cities and farms throughout the United States. Yet these ordinary men were soon united by a common cause, the defense of their country and the willingness to sacrifice for what they believed in without knowing the outcome. Their challenges were daunting … but they knew it was not enough to say they were doing their best. Victory was the only option.”
Nettleton quoted the author Walter Lord to further exemplify the essence of the battle, which lasted four days.
“They had no right to win. Yet they did, and in doing so they changed the course of a war ... even against the greatest of odds, there is something in the human spirit - a magic blend of skill, faith and valor - that can lift men from certain defeat to incredible victory.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, taps was played as the just-tossed wreath floated symbolically in the bay. On the shore, Nettleton held his salute towards the wreath along with the rest of the guests behind him. Fifty flags, each representing a state, held by Marines and Sailors, blew in a delicate breeze in a moment of past and present military pride.
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2014 14:17 |
| Story ID: | 132917 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY , CU |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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