The Chief of Naval Operations pays tribute to the veterans of the greatest sea battle of World War II and draws parallels between the sacrifices of those men and the performance of today's sailors and Marines.
Our Navy is the most powerful maritime force in the history of the world. We sail into harm's way as a matter of routine, protecting democracy, our values, and the vital interests of the United States and its allies. Our sailors and Marines are highly trained and adept at operating sophisticated equipment and weaponry. We are mobile, flexible, and—as demonstrated by our superb performance in Operation Enduring Freedom—capable of striking from unprecedented distances. Few missions are beyond our reach.
It is important to remember and build on the history that brought us here. The platforms, roles, and missions we employ today can be tracked to the revolutionary transformations that emerged from World War II. A vast array of technological advances have strengthened our platforms and deepened our combat capability. But the World War II sailor still would feel right at home on board a modern warship. A deeper tie, however, binds us to those who have gone before. At the base of this strong bond is our fierce devotion to service—service to our nation, service to our Navy, and service to our shipmates. It remains the underlying theme of military life, a belief that we are part of something much greater than any one person. Our Navy's dedication to that ideal was never more evident than it was at the Battle of Midway in June 1942.
The period between the World Wars was a challenging era for the U.S. Navy. The aircraft carrier and its accompanying aircraft, as well as many other technological advances, emerged and developed during this time, but it also was an era of severe budgetary cutbacks and challenges to quality of life. Ships got old, and proud sailors toiled to keep them ready as world hostilities increased. The 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor put U.S. sailors on the front lines.
After crippling our Pacific Fleet battle line at Pearl Harbor, Imperial Japanese forces defeated numerous Allied ground, air, and sea forces in the Far East. Leaders in Tokyo believed an attack on our installation at Midway Atoll would lure the U.S. fleet to a battle in which the Japanese would have a decisive advantage, ensuring victory and their domination of East Asia and the entire Pacific Ocean.
Code-breakers in our intelligence community and maritime patrol and reconnaissance planes, however, located the enemy carriers. The Pacific Fleet and thousands of U.S. sailors prepared to fight a battle on which so much depended. They faced enemy sailors who were battle-hardened, skillful, and prepared to sacrifice their lives in the service of their emperor.
Few U.S. sailors thought of anything but meeting the enemy forces head on and defeating them. This is what they had been preparing to do throughout the long years of cutbacks, low pay, and aging ships. Like millions of their countrymen, they were determined to avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor. But unlike many Americans, their motivation was charged by the personal knowledge and familiarity with shipmates lost. They had steamed past the beached Nevada (BB-36), the overturned Oklahoma (BB-37), and the silent tomb of the 1,177 sailors and Marines in the Arizona (BB-39). They had learned the full meaning of service, and they were ready to teach others about it. They knew of the numerous basic training centers that had been established in the United States that soon would be churning out sailors and soldiers by the thousands. They knew of the shipyards, airplane factories, and armament manufacturers that were gearing up to produce new weapons of war. And they knew, in the early days of June 1942 with the war barely six months old, that they, with their three carriers and escort forces barely half the size of the approaching Japanese fleet, were the only force standing between Japan and victory. With the odds stacked against them, they were prepared to fight and, if need be, die in service to the nation.
Sailors and Marines of all ranks, through skill, determination, and remarkable courage, and despite heavy odds, won that battle. In the air, on the sea in surface engagements, and beneath the surface as our submarines engaged the enemy, all facets of the U.S. Navy combined to deliver the most decisive victory of World War II in the Pacific. Never again would the enemy's Navy pose a strategic threat to this nation. From that point, the United States and its allies began the long campaign that ended with the surrender of Japan on the deck of battleship Missouri (BB-63) on 2 September 1945.
The Battle of Midway is more than a great victory. It represents who we are, as a Navy and a nation. Each sailor proved his mettle in that battle and established for all time the reputation for ferocity, flexibility, courage, and persistence that has become the hallmark of the U.S. fleet.
Seasoned sailors and new recruits alike focused on winning at Midway. They knew how important it was to deploy forward, to serve and represent the nation and the values they cherished. When the nation called after the attack on Pearl Harbor, they answered. They held the line bravely while our country mobilized for war. It was their turn to make history.
Now, it is our turn. We find ourselves today engaged again in a war of great significance, pitted—just as our sailors were 60 years ago—against an internationally dispersed and networked enemy dedicated to the destruction of our freedom and way of life. As we take the fight to the enemy and secure victory in this conflict, we draw strength from the legacy of service passed on from those brave sailors and Marines at Midway. Those Americans decided to live a life of consequence, of sacrifice, and of service. They saw it was their turn; they held the line; they turned the tide. And their patriotism, compassion, and love of country continue to inspire us today.
Admiral Vern Clark became the U.S. Navy’s 27th Chief of Naval Operations on 21 July 2000.