Here in central Louisiana, the mowing season starts in March. I refuse to start a lawnmower in February, even if my neighbors choose to engage in such madness. With the wet spring in March, April and May, I have been unable to get into the ditches until today.
I have two close neighbors. One across the street, one next door. They tend their lawns. The next-door neighbors lawn looks like a putting green. Across the street, the lawn looks like a well-tended fairway. My lawn is the rough. I'm okay with hat. If Belle doesn't complain, I'm good.
I am reminded that 83 years ago today an outnumbered American fleet surprised Kido Butai north of Midway in the Pacific. At 10:00 that morning, the Japanese fleet was the preeminent naval force in the Pacific. By dark, it lay shattered on the ocean floor. This afternoon with my evening cocktail, I will raise a toast to McCluskey and Best, along with the sailors of the Yorktown.
We've all seen the movie, and there were a lot of sailors and airmen who did not come back from Midway. When your plane explodes, or your ship sinks beneath you, it doesn't matter if you are an admiral of a non-rated sailor. We need to remember to honor the loss, along with the victory.
3 comments:
Don't forget all those intrepid Torpedo Bomber pilots, who were virtually wiped out pressing the attack. They drew the Japanese fighter cover down low and left the high road exposed for the dive bombers to exploit.
They are often overlooked because their attacks were unsuccessful, but they fearlessly sacrificed themselves to do their part.
LTC Cooper once wrote a yarn about the McCluskeys :
"What did you do in the war, Daddy?"
"I won it."
VB-8... May they rest in peace.
Post a Comment