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Battle of Midway remembered today
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Posted on Jun 04 2012
SANTA RITA, Guam—Joint Region Marianas will hold a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Midway today, June 5, at 9am at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park Asan Beach. The public is invited to attend.
The ceremony will feature remarks by Rear Adm. Paul Bushong, commander of Joint Region Marianas, a wreath-laying, music by the 721st Army Band, and static displays.
Guests will get a closer look at military vehicles, watercrafts, heavy equipment, and presentations courtesy of U.S. Naval Base Guam Security, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam and the National Park Service. Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 will also have a Knighthawk helicopter at the event. The static displays will be on site until noon.
The Battle of Midway, fought June 4-6, 1942, near the Central Pacific island of Midway, is considered the decisive battle of the war in the Pacific. Before this battle, the Japanese were on the offensive, capturing territory throughout Asia and the Pacific. By their attack, the Japanese had planned to capture Midway to use as an advance base, as well as to entrap and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Because of communication intelligence successes, the U.S. Pacific Fleet surprised the Japanese forces, sinking the four Japanese carriers that had attacked Pearl Harbor only six months before, while only losing one carrier. After Midway, the Americans and their allies took the offensive in the Pacific.[I] (PR)[/I]
