EL CENTRO, Calif. - Naval Air Facility El Centro commemorated the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway during a ceremony Monday morning at Flag Circle. In attendance at the ceremony were local dignitaries, NAF El Centro personnel and five WWII Veterans. The ceremony started with the presentation of colors then remarks by the Commanding Officer followed by a wreath laying.
The Battle of Midway took place June 4-7, 1942, and is recognized as the turning point of the Pacific campaign in World War II. By leveraging critical operational intelligence to learn of an impending attack, the U.S. Navy was able to outmaneuver Japanese forces and turn the tables on the enemy, sinking multiple attacking ships, including four of their aircraft carriers and inflicting irreparable damage on the Japanese fleet. The Imperial Japanese Navy was never again able to mount a carrier offensive of any significance for the duration of the war.
Captain Jones' remarks:
Victory at the Battle of Midway represents everything great about America, everything great about this WWII generation. The lessons that these heroes from this generation have taught us are timeless. We should never forget them, as they proved successful against evil tyranny during the most challenging and threatening era in our nations' history.
Our US Navy today is shaped, molded and defined by great battles in our nation's history. While there have been many great US Navy victories, especially during WWII, victory at the Battle of Midway is the pinnacle of them all.
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