An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News from around the Fleet

Battle of Midway Veterans Honored in Honolulu

07 June 2022

From Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nicholas Bauer

During the ceremony, Battle of Midway veterans Navy Watertender 1st Class Julian Hodges and U.S. Marine Corps Private 1st Class Edgar R. Fox were honored and recognized for their service and sacrifice during the battle.
Battle of Midway veterans Navy Watertender 1st Class Julian Hodges and U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Edgar R. Fox are recognized for their service during the 80th Anniversary Commemoration
HONOLULU (June 7, 2022) Battle of Midway veterans Navy Watertender 1st Class Julian Hodges and U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Edgar R. Fox are recognized for their service during the 80th Anniversary Commemoration at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nick Bauer)
Battle of Midway veterans Navy Watertender 1st Class Julian Hodges and U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Edgar R. Fox are recognized for their service during the 80th Anniversary Commemoration
220607-N-ER806-1071
HONOLULU (June 7, 2022) Battle of Midway veterans Navy Watertender 1st Class Julian Hodges and U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Edgar R. Fox are recognized for their service during the 80th Anniversary Commemoration at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nick Bauer)
Photo By: MC2 Nicholas Bauer
VIRIN: 220607-N-ER806-1071

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Service members, veterans, distinguished guests, and spectators, gathered for the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Midway at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, June 7th.

Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), Adm. Samuel Paparo, Commissioner, American Battlefields Monuments Commission, Raymond D. Kemp Sr, and Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System, Cynthia Martinez, were in attendance and spoke during the event.

The ceremony featured a Hawaiian ‘Oli (chant) by Kahu (minister) Kordell Kekoa, as well as musical performances by The Texas Children’s Choir and COMPACFLT’s band.

“The victory at Midway represented a calculated turning point in the war in the Pacific,” said Paparo. “The balance of sea power had begun to shift and ultimately led to victory for the allies.”

Paparo went on to speak on the importance of the alliance shared today between the United States and Japan.

“Today, we are enjoined in a great alliance,” said Paparo. “Out of the terrible fires and lessons, and among former enemies, has come a kinship celebrating those who died in the Battle of Midway and moving forward with our common values of dignity and respect for each other.” 
NA
HONOLULU (June 7, 2022) Adm. Samuel Paparo, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Battle of Midway veteran Navy Watertender 1st Class Julian Hodges pose for a photo during the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Midway at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nick Bauer)
NA
220607-N-ER806-1276
HONOLULU (June 7, 2022) Adm. Samuel Paparo, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Battle of Midway veteran Navy Watertender 1st Class Julian Hodges pose for a photo during the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Midway at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nick Bauer)
Photo By: Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Bauer
VIRIN: 220607-N-ER806-1276


During the ceremony, Battle of Midway veterans Navy Watertender First Class Julian Hodges and U.S. Marine Corps Private 1st Class Edgar R. Fox were honored and recognized for their service and sacrifice during the battle.

“It is an honor to perpetuate and pay tribute to the brave men who secured the freedom we hold dear today,” said Martinez. “We celebrate the freedom and peace that was ushered in decades ago because of their great courage, dedication, and sacrifices, and we seek to continue to learn from them.”

Following speeches by Paparo, Martinez, and Kemp, distinguished guests participated in a wreath-laying ceremony to pay their respects.

The Battle of Midway, fought June 4-7, 1942 in the Pacific Ocean, was a decisive battle during World War II, and is regarded as the turning point of the war. Three Navy aircraft carriers – USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Hornet (CV-8) and USS Yorktown (CV-5), as well as land-based bombers, defeated an Imperial Japanese force which featured four aircraft carriers of their own.

Leading up to the battle, Commander Joseph J. Rochefort and Lieutenant Commander Edwin T. Layton, intelligence officers at Combat Intelligence Unit, known as Station Hypo and located in Pearl Harbor, led radio deception operations resulting in vital information for Adm. Chester Nimitz, commander in chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, on the future location and objectives of the Imperial Japanese forces.

Today, the U.S.-Japan Alliance is a cornerstone of peace and security in a free and open Indo-Pacific region.   

Please visit the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet DVIDS page at: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/COM-PF


 
 

Google Translation Disclaimer

  • Google Translate, a third party service provided by Google, performs all translations directly and dynamically.
  • Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil has no control over the features, functions, or performance of the Google Translate service.
  • The automated translations should not be considered exact and should be used only as an approximation of the original English language content.
  • This service is meant solely for the assistance of limited English-speaking users of the website.
  • Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information translated.
  • Some items cannot be translated, including but not limited to image buttons, drop down menus, graphics, photos, or portable document formats (pdfs).
  • Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil does not directly endorse Google Translate or imply that it is the only language translation solution available to users.
  • All site visitors may choose to use similar tools for their translation needs. Any individuals or parties that use Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil content in translated form, whether by Google Translate or by any other translation services, do so at their own risk.
  • IE users: Please note that Google Translate may not render correctly when using Internet Explorer. Users are advised to use MS Edge, Safari, Chrome, or Firefox browser to take full advantage of the Google Translate feature.
  • The official text of content on this site is the English version found on this website. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information contained in translated text, refer to the English version on this website, it is the official version.

Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea   |   PSC 478 Box 1   |   FPO AP, 96212-0001
Official U.S. Navy Website