Remembering two important World War 2 events

[Kinch]

Last surviving 'Rosie the Riveters' honored by WWII Museum on D-Day Anniversary: 'We can do it'

More than 30 surviving "Rosie the Riveters" gathered at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans to receive the 2026 American Spirit Award on D-Day.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Kinch]

On June 10, 1942, just three days after Midway, Admiral King suggested Tulagi as America’s First offensive of the war. And it was near Guadacanal, which was the turning point of the Asia-Pacific War. It wouldn’t have been possible without the victories at Coral Sea and Midway. Midway allowed the U.S. to seize the initiative.

 

[Kinch]

George Gay was the sole survivor of Torpedo 8. He survived after his plane was shot down near one of the Japanese carriers. He was rescued several days later. He claims to have witnessed three of the carriers attacked by American dive bombers. He told his story to Nimitz. He became a national celebrity and Roosevelt had him brought back to the U.S. to help gin up publicity for the war effort and improve morale. He was on the cover of Life Magazine.

 

[Kinch]

The man who deserves a lot of the credit for the victory at Midway was Joe Rochefort. He worked in Naval Intelligence and determined that the Japanese were planning an invasion in the Central Pacific at Midway. He told Nimitz what day and where and when we would first spot them. He was exactly right. However, officers in D.C. and the Redman brothers were jealous and transferred him out after the battle. Nimitz nominated Rochefort for Medal of Honor, but he was denied. One of the biggest injustices of the war. President Reagan presented Rochefort’s son with a Distinguished Medal in 1986.

https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history/2026/june/justice-joe-rochefort

 

[Kinch]

Teddy Rooservelt’s son received a Medal of Honor and with a cane, directed his troops at Omaha Beach.

 

[Kinch]

 

[Kinch]

 

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[NWICY]

Thank you to all who contributed to this thread it is really interesting.

 

[Kinch]

Nimitz said this was a command decision that had decisvive results at Midway.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I'd have to guess that I've read 40-50 books on WWII, but With The Old Breed is easily the most brutal account. The more you read about the war, the more horrifying it becomes.

 

[Kinch]

 

[Kinch]

Admiral Fletcher’s Home in Marshalltown

Fletcher House opens at 202 E. Church St.

It may be Marshalltown’s newest downtown bar, but the Fletcher House at 202 E. Church St. is probably already well-known to local residents through its previous use as the home of the Historical Society of Marshall County (HSMC). Building owner Denny Gray, who formerly owned and operated Dave...

www.timesrepublican.com

 

[1SEIACLONE]

I'd have to guess that I've read 40-50 books on WWII, but With The Old Breed is easily the most brutal account. The more you read about the war, the more horrifying it becomes.

Sledge had a unique way of writing, and pulled no punches, it was interesting to see how much he changed from the boy that joined the service to the man that left it. After coming home, he buried himself in academia to cope with what he saw and did.

 

[CyValley2]

It’s hard to fathom that the Japanese killed approximately 25 million Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese during the war. And that doesn’t even start to count the soviets and Jewish people in the European theater killed by Hitler.

Only recently I read that following the Doolittle Raid in April 1942 that bombed Tokyo, the Japanese killed some 200,000 Chinese in retribution for those who had helped hide and protect American flyers. The Doolittle mission included flying into China after releasing the bombs.



Jimmy Doolittle and his B-25 Mitchell taking off from the USS Hornet for the raid.

 

[CyValley2]

In the Battle of Midway, we sent 27 ships. Two years later in the Battle of Phil Sea, due to the American industrial might we sent 129 ships. And unlike the Japanese, the same month, we sent an Armada to France that had even more craft. It was incredible how the United States was able to manufacture all those ships in a short amount of time. The navy at Midway was not the same navy at Phil Sea. Not even close.

By 1945 Nimitz's Pacific fleet numbered more than 1600 ships. From 3 carriers on December 7 to two dozen modern, large, fast Essex carriers, and many jeep carriers to boot. A massive fleet, the largest by far in world history. And the European theater took precedence over the Pacific theater. Stunning production.

 

[CyValley2]

At that level it’s all about politics. Same reason Chesty Puller was awarded 5 Navy crosses and not at least two medals of honor. Back then the president and or VP didn’t like a general, they would not let them advance

It's been decades since I read a book about Puller. Wasn't there some Marine Corps institutional opposition to Chesty winning MoH? Yeah, I recall reading that two of those Navy Crosses, and maybe a third, qualified for MoHs.

 

[CyValley2]

I feel like watching Band of Brothers all of a sudden.

Please don't forget 'The Pacific', like BoB also produced by Spielberg and Hanks. It is outstanding.

 

[Kinch]

The best book I’ve read on Midway is Shattered Sword. It demolishes the myths that permeated around that battle for 60 years. It is considered the authoritative book on the battle especially from the Japanese side. He actually used the photos and Japanese records on the CAP takeoffs and landings, as well as explaining the difference in carrier doctrine between Japanese and United States.If you are interested in Midway, this book is a must. Japanese historians laugh at some of the myths the Americans used in their narrative like Miracle at Midway that people still believe today.

 

[Kinch]

After the battle Spruance told Nimitz that when you read the after action reports, believe mine, don’t necessarily believe Marc Mitschers report. Mitscher lied about the mission to nowhere. It surprises many that Nimitz didn’t court martial him but gave him important assignments in the big blue fleet later on.