National Geographic: The Battle for Midway Page #5

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a north Pacific blue ever since

the start of the war.

And in addition to the deck being

a bright yellow,

the big rising sun up forward

of the elevator,

it was glowing red,

like a tremendous advertisement.

Here we are, we are the Japanese Navy.

He dives toward the rising sun.

And releases his bomb

as does the rest of his group

onto Japanese decks now crowded

with torpedoes,

bombs, gasoline, planes-and men.

She was a mass of flames

from bow to stern,

with tremendous eruptions coming up

every four to five seconds

as a bomb must've hit.

Japanese survivors float hour after

hour in the water,

in silence with the dead and dying

as Kaga burns.

Most are rescued by

other Japanese ships

but not all.

We were fortunate to have been rescued

so quickly.

But there were still men left swimming

and they committed suicide.

In five short minutes Kaga, Akagi,

and Soryu have been devastated

scores of planes destroyed,

many hundreds of young men killed.

Many of the Japanese airmen are caught

in the sky above their burning ships

with nowhere to land.

In just five minutes, the cream

of the Japanese Navy is finished.

But the battle is far from over.

At first, I would like to read

a letter to my friends here.

Ballard's search for

the Japanese carriers has failed.

And the two Japanese veterans

will soon leave the Laney Chouest.

But the voyage to Midway allows Haruo

and Yuji the opportunity

to bid their fallen comrades one

last farewell

and to remember all the young men

who died in battle.

We believe that the innumerable spirits

who sacrificed their lives for their

country should be forever honored

for their distinguished service.

We are honored to have fought

alongside you in battle.

Veterans from both countries have

overcome past animosities

and have pledged a renewed peace.

Spirits, please rest in peace.

Yes, I was thinking, as Haruo and Yuji

were paying homage to their shipmates,

that I, too, lost 45 shipmates

at this very spot.

As all the planes in my squadron,

except the one I was in,

were actually shot down here among

the Japanese battle force,

so this was a very solemn moment

for me as well as for them.

Eleven a.m. on June 4th.

Admiral Nagumo regroups his

surviving planes on the deck of Hiryu

the only carrier

to escape American bombs.

There is still a chance

to emerge victorious.

The Japanese pilots take off,

heading for

the closest American carrier

Yorktown.

The enemy dive bombers score three hits

killing more than a dozen men.

But, unlike the Japanese carriers,

there are no bombs,

torpedoes or fuel on deck,

waiting to explode.

For all the smoke and fire,

Yorktown is still afloat.

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