Navy, Guam Community Remember the Battle of Midway

By Anna-Victoria Crisostomo, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Service members and special guests gathered at the World War II Memorial Park on board U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) June 3 to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the Battle of Midway.

NBG Commanding Officer Capt. Richard Wood opened the ceremony by reminding those in attendance that NBG would be the first naval base in the world to celebrate the anniversary that day because Guam is where "America's day begins." Wood also spoke of the significance of the event site and of Guam's role during the war.

"We are here today in commemoration of an incredible battle that took place 69 years ago on June 3, 1942," he said. "It was the turning point of the war in the Pacific and it is appropriate that we commemorate the battle and remember the sacrifices at sea made by many men who perished at Midway because it is an essential chapter in our naval heritage. Guam knows these chapters in the history of our Navy because Guam was caught right in the middle of the Great War. Today we are sitting in a park dedicated to those American servicemen and to the Chamorros who lost their lives on Guam and in the same war."

After his opening remarks, Wood called on Joint Region Marianas (JRM) Commander Rear Adm. Paul Bushong, who spoke about the key events leading up to the Battle of Midway.

He credited the strong hearts of America's service members as the driving force behind America's win at Midway.

"The actions taken by the individual Sailors who fought in this battle – the strength of their character and firmness of their resolve – is why this battle is significant in our history and why we commemorate it today," he said. "The Battle of Midway is the ultimate statement of our Navy ethos and character. This battle had many heroes."

Following his remarks, Bushong joined JRM Command Master Chief (SW/AW) Paul Kingsbury and special guest Manuel Diaz to place a wreath in honor of those who fought at Midway at the foot of the park's World War II monument.

Diaz is a local World War II veteran who was serving aboard USS West Virginia (BB 48) at Pearl Harbor during the attack by the Japanese Dec. 7, 1941. NBG Command Master Chief (SW/AW/SCW) John Lawry said he was glad Diaz was a part of the event.

"It's always our honor to host a World War II vet, especially somebody that survived Pearl Harbor," he said. "Having him here has made it even more poignant and purposeful for us because he lived that and I can't even imagine what he went through at a time of war in that era."

After the wreath was in place, the 721st U.S. Army Band, of the Guam Army National Guard, played "The Marines' Hymn" and "Anchors Aweigh" as service members stood for the songs.

After the ceremony, Japan Consul General of Guam Yoshiyuki Kimura said he was grateful for the chance to be a part of the event. Kimura also reflected on how the world has changed since the war.

"The Battle of Midway became a very critical turning point in the Pacific War and since then the course of the war changed," he said. "No matter what happened in that sea at that time, [the Japanese have] changed and we are different from that. [Japan and America] are friends now."

Kimura illustrated this sentiment by citing the recent efforts made by the United States in support of Operation Tomodachi. He took the opportunity to thank U.S. service members and the Guam community for their help and friendship.

Lawry said the event was a huge success and reflected on the importance of remembering the sacrifices of the past.

"As years go on, it's very easy to forget those that came before us and the Battle of Midway changed the world," he said.