By PETER ATKINSON, Deputy Editor
More than 450 persons gathered to honor veterans of the Battle of Midway at a commemoration June 2 in Jacksonville, Fla., sponsored by the Mayport Council and the Greater Jacksonville United Service Organizations.
Held at the Jacksonville Hyatt Regency Riverfront hotel, the ninth annual event to recognize those who fought in the battle that turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific was highlighted by the principal address from the Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter.
The main attraction was the gathering of Midway veterans — 21 of them this year — and the living legacy of “Honor, Courage, Commitment” that they pass on to succeeding generations of uniformed men and women, many of whom were in attendance, according to John B. Mitchell, a member of the Mayport Council Board of Directors and program chairman for the Midway commemoration. Thus the charge, issued by Diane Wright, chairwoman of event, for all in attendance to “recognize” the Midway veterans, “respect” their heroic contributions and “revere” their legacy to us all.
In his address, Winter made the connection between the Battle of Midway, the first major naval battle in history to rely completely on carrier-based aircraft, and the power projection instruments of choice today: the aircraft carrier and carrier-based air wing.
Following his remarks, Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton presented Winter with a key to the city. Winter then presented a memento of the evening to each of the 21 Midway veterans present, as their biographies were read.
The biographical sketches themselves, said Mitchell, were a lesson in history, from Jay Powell, who borrowed $10 and hitchhiked to the enlistment center to join the Navy at 16, and was still only 16 when he fought in the Battle of Midway, to dive bomber pilot Hal Buell, holder of the Navy Cross, who had the most combat flying hours in the Pacific war.
The most colorful moment of the evening was the address given by Midway veteran John Hancock, a retired Navy Reserve captain, who provided a thrilling, yet humorous, look at his World War II experience, Mitchell said. Graduating from boot camp on Dec. 5, 1941, Hancock’s hopes of Christmas leave were cut short by the events in Pearl Harbor two days later. Instead, he found himself at sea aboard the carrier USS Yorktown.
After participating in the Battle of the Coral Sea, and the famous 72-hour repair period in Pearl Harbor, Hancock, a Seaman 2nd Class at the time, fought at the Battle of Midway. He described his experience from his perspective as an anti-aircraft gunner in Yorktown’s superstructure, and some of the “first-hand” encounters he had with enemy aircraft attacking the carrier.
Rear. Adm. Mark Boensel, commander, Navy Region Southeast, presented Hancock with a plaque commemorating the Battle of Midway.
Cmdr. Deidre L. McLay, commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut, which was commissioned in Mayport a week later, was on hand for the Midway commemoration along with 30 officers and crew from the ship.
Sculpture Provides Unique Backdrop for Sarasota VE Day Rally
The Sarasota-Manatee, Fla., Council found an unusual platform to stage its recent Victory in Europe (VE) Day remembrance in downtown Sarasota — a 25-foot sculpture that recalls Alfred Eisenstaedt’s iconic Life magazine photograph “The Kiss.”
Every winter season, sculptures are placed along the bayfront public park in Sarasota. Among them this year, was “Unconditional Surrender” a replica of a sailor kissing a nurse in New York’s Times Square on Victory in Japan Day (VJ Day), according to council President Jerry St. Germain.
It was quite popular and controversial, he said. Many people visited the site at all hours of the day and night and took pictures, frequently with a couple posing in a similar kiss.
Seward Johnson, the sculptor, said he did not use Eisenstaedt’s picture, but a similar picture taken by Navy Lt. Victor Jorgenson that is now in the National Archives, according to St. Germain.
Sarasota Navy Leaguers decided to sponsor a rally around the sculpture on VE Day, May 8, since the sculpture was to be removed before VJ Day, Aug. 15, St. Germain said. Council members, an Honor Guard from the Sarasota Military Academy and representatives from Sons of the American Revolution took part in the rally, and a group of area veterans and patriotic citizens also attended.
Pacific Central Region Honors Merchant Marine Veterans
The Pacific Central Region’s Merchant Marine Committee feted the veterans who served on the U.S.-flag merchant ships in World War II during a National Maritime Day event at the Merchant Marine Memorial in Sacramento, Calif.
A dozen speakers were featured and documents from President George W. Bush; California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger; U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif.; the California Senate and Assembly; the City of Sacramento; the Port of Sacramento; and the Navy League were read.
The Grant Maritime Technologies Program in nearby North Highlands participated with Navy Leaguer Capt. Jim West at the helm of the school’s work boat Brute.
Phelps Hobart, Sacramento Council vice president for Military and Veteran Affairs and a member of the Merchant Marine Committee, made the arrangements, obtained the speakers, resolutions/proclamations and performed master of ceremonies duties.
After the benediction and honor guard gun salute, the memorial wreath was placed on the Sacramento River from the stern of Brute. To the strains of “Taps” it floated toward the Golden Gate and Pacific Ocean beyond.
Broward County Recognizes Reservists
The Broward County, Fla., Council recognized reservists from its adopted Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center from Hialeah, Fla., during its June dinner. Each reservist was given a plaque and a monetary award.
To help honor the reservists, retired Rear Adm. Casey W. Coane, national executive director of the Naval Reserve Association, spoke at the dinner, providing insight into the role of the reservists in today’s military. Jim Naugle, mayor of Fort Lauderdale, presented Coane with a key to the city. Naugle also presented the council with an official commendation.
MA2 Isolina Santiago Oliver received recognition as “Reserve Sailor of the Year.” Sgt. Kenneth Padmore was honored as “Reserve Marine of the Year.”
Padmore is a Miami-Dade County firefighter and about 25 of his co-workers were in attendance to show their support.
Cpl. Omar D. Rufino was selected as the “Active Duty Marine of the Year,” however, he could not attend and his award was accepted by Maj. Chris Guarnieri. Also not in attendance was “Active Duty Sailor of the Year,” FC1 Joseph A. Paramore.
Past National President Hugh Mayberry Dies
Navy League Past National President Hugh H. Mayberry died June at his residence on St. Simons Island, Ga. He was 77. A longtime Navy League member, he served as national president from 1995-97. He most recently was a national director with the Golden Isles, Ga., Council, and a member of the executive committee and national advisory council. He also founded the Golden Isles Division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps.
Mayberry was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He served as president of Dixie Paint and Varnish Co. and founded Interstate Paint Corp. Mayberry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Gwen, four daughters, nine grandchildren and a sister. A memorial service was held July 5 at St. Simons Presbyterian Church, where he served as deacon.
Short Bursts
A delegation of Central Midwest Area Navy Leaguers treated the USS Harry S. Truman’s outgoing commanding officer, Capt. James P. Gigliotti, to a tour of the Missouri State Capitol and Supreme Court during his recent visit Jefferson City. Accompanied by Central Midwest Area President Samuel M. Bushman, Mid-Missouri Council President John O’Connell and James Erlinger, Navy League national vice president for Youth Affairs, Gigliotti met with Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, state Supreme Court Judge William Ray Price and state Rep. Don Wells during the tour. Lt. Cmdr. Elissa Smith, the aircraft carrier’s public affairs officer, and Truman Commissioning Committee member Gene Bushman also took part in the tour. Gigliotti is scheduled to leave his post on Truman, which is currently undergoing maintenance, for a new assignment ashore at the end of July.
The Richmond, Va., area U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC)/U.S. Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC) program will soon boast five members of the same family in its ranks. Brothers Joseph and Nicholas Weggen are cadets with the NLCC Group Training Ship Virginia unit, sponsored by the Richmond, Va., Council, as is their cousin, Andrew Blazon, who joined this year. Blazon’s brother Thomas is set to join this summer, as Joseph and Andrew are set to move up the NSCC America Division. The Weggens’ mother, Jennifer, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former naval supply officer, is an NSCC warrant officer.
