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Wings Over Midway: A Chronicle of Valor and Sacrifice

Dedication

This chronicle is dedicated to the brave men who fought in the Battle of Midway. Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering spirit in the face of overwhelming odds have left an enduring mark on history. Through their heroic actions, they not only defended our nation but also SHAPED the COURSE of the WORLD. May this narrative HONOR their memory and keep their stories alive for generations to come.

The Story

The sun had barely begun to rise over the Pacific, directing a golden tone across the waters as Lieutenant Commander John “Jack” Waldron gazed at the horizon from the deck of the USS Hornet. The air was thick with anticipation along with the salty tang of the ocean. Jack could feel the hum of the ship’s engines vibrating through the soles of his boots, a constant reminder of the battle that emerged ahead.

A few feet away, young Ensign George Adams tightened the straps on his flight suit, his hands trembling slightly. He caught Jack’s eye, and the more experienced pilot gave him a supportive nod. “Stay focused,” Jack had said earlier in the ready room, his voice steady. “We know what we’re up against. TRUST your SKILLS and TRAINING.”

As the Hornet’s deck crew rushed to prepare The Devastator, a torpedo bomber used by the United States Navy, the sky above them remained deceitfully calm, a stretch of blue that contradicted the storm of metal and fire that would soon erupt. Jack climbed into his Devastator, the cockpit familiar and comforting. He ran through his pre-flight checks with practiced ease, every switch and various gauges, a part of a routine that had been drilled into him over countless hours. Each instrument, switch and gauge being an important lifeline in the chaos of the Battle of Midway,

“Pilots, man your planes!” The call buzzed over the intercom, and the tension that had trailed in the air like a heavy fog finally vanished. Engines roared to life, and the deck crew signaled the all-clear. Jack looked over at George one last time, their eyes meeting in a silent promise. They were ready.

The take-off was smooth, The Devastators lifting off one by one, their propellers cutting through the air as they formed up and headed towards the coordinates that had been drilled into their minds. The vastness of the ocean spread out below, a deep blue background that seemed infinite. But they knew somewhere out there, the Japanese fleet was searing towards Midway, aimed at delivering a debilitating blow to the United States Navy.

As they approached the enemy’s last known position, the radio buzzed to life. “Enemy sighted, bearing 320 degrees.” Jack’s grip tightened on the control stick, his eyes scanning the horizon. Then he saw them: the dark silhouettes of Japanese carriers and their escort ships, moving in a tight formation.

“Hold steady, men,” Jack ordered, his voice calm and commanding. They descended towards the enemy fleet, the wind rushing past them, the roar of their engines filling their ears. Anti-aircraft fire erupted from the Japanese ships, black puffs of smoke growing in the air around them. Jack’s plane shuddered as shrapnel tore through the wings, but he kept his course steady, eyes locked on the target.

The enemy fighters, the feared Zeros, descended like a swarm of angry hornets. Jack’s squadron scattered, trying to evade the attack. Explosions and the sharp rattle of machine-gun fire filled the air. Jack saw planes go down in flames, but he couldn’t think about that now. His only focus was on the Japanese carrier approaching ahead, its deck crowded with aircraft preparing for departure.

“Steady… steady…” Jack murmured to himself, lining up his torpedo. He released it at the perfect moment, pulling up hard to avoid the carrier’s guns. He didn’t see the impact, but he knew it was a hit. A heavy stream of water and smoke erupted from the ship’s side, a signal of success during the chaos.

But the victory was short-lived. A Zero latched onto his tail, its guns spitting fire. Jack’s plane shuddered as bullets shredded through the framework. He fought to control the shaking aircraft, glancing back to see George’s plane diving towards the same carrier. The young ensign’s face was a mask of determination.

Jack’s plane couldn’t take any more. With a final shudder, the engine seized, and he felt the sickening drop as he lost altitude. He braced himself for the impact as the ocean’s strong water current and pressure rushed up to meet him. The water was shockingly cold, a grim contrast to the heat of the battle above. He fought to free himself of the wreckage, his life vest inflating, assisting him to get his head above the water surface, finally floating above the water, he was gasping for air.

Around him, the battle raged on. Jack witnessed as George’s plane released its torpedo, a direct hit on the carrier’s deck. Flames roared skyward, black smoke blowing in every direction. Jack felt a wave of pride even as he drifted in the water, exhausted but alive. The battle was far from over, but the tide had begun to turn.

The USS Hornet’s planes had struck a critical blow. Jack’s thoughts drifted to the men who hadn’t made it, their sacrifice scorched into his memory. As he floated in the vast expanse of the Pacific, he knew they had given their all for this moment, for this chance to change the course of the war. The Battle of Midway would be remembered not just for its strategic importance, but for the courage and resilience of those who fought it.

About the Author

After graduating from high school, I enlisted in the United States Military in the pre-9/11 era, where I began my journey in Military Service. My experiences in the Military instilled in me a deep appreciation for duty, honor, and resilience. During the events of 9/11, I was Active Duty Army Intelligence stationed at the TEXAS CRYPTOLOGIC CENTER and felt a renewed call to duty to serve my country. My time in the Military provided me with unique insights and a profound understanding of the sacrifices made by our servicemen and servicewomen. These experiences have inspired me to write a fictional historical narrative that pays homage to one of the most pivotal battles in naval history, the Battle of Midway because no matter what branch of service you serve in…in the END,,,we are a TEAM dedicated to the SAME end GOAL.

Displacement – the inhumanity of humans towards others

Displacement refers to the forced movement of people from the environment or locality where they have been living until now. When people are made to move away from their occupational activities forcefully, that too would come under the purview of displacement. Climate change, rise in the sea level, natural disasters (such as earthquake, famine, etc.), political strife, economic changes, civil conflict, and wars are some common reasons that trigger displacement behavior in humans. However, among all these, wars are the most common cause of triggering displacement disorder. And when one considers how humans are behind the armed conflicts that inflict such pain and emotional turmoil on people by compelling them to leave their homes or known locale, one may wonder what makes one category of humans show such inhumanity to its peers, who are often at a disadvantageous position.

In his book titled “The Sea of Feed,” US war veteran Mingin Irn tries to make sense of his displacement emotions. He talks about a range of emotions coursing through him – be it getting displaced by fear, by chaos, or by The Creator Himself. He remembers having these feelings when he was injured while on OEF status, which left him in a coma. He was put on life support for months and battled for his life. Feeling displaced after being injured made him question if he had done something extremely wrong in his life to deserve such a punishment, which was so unspeakable and heinous that he wouldn’t even wish this upon his arch-enemy.

Reviewing the importance of the experience factor

Life experiences make people wise as they learn to separate the right from the wrong and develop the ability to make wise decisions depending on what the situation demands. The experience factor is especially important in the context of the armed forces where a single wrong move or incorrect decision can jeopardize the safety of many and even cost lives. In his book titled “The Sea of Feed,” Mingin Irn touches upon the subject of experience and shows how it makes a man out of a boy. Those trying to find out experience meaning can get useful insights from this book on how nothing can replace life experiences and how they help in the development of well-rounded individuals.

The experience fragments of Mingin Irn’s father are worth noticing when trying to understand they shape a man. The author’s father started his journey in the military at the young age of 19 and went on to experience a lot of devastation and death. He saw his team members die when taking fire from the enemy, his Captain making a wrong call (even when he expressed his doubts, thanks to what his guts and experience told him) and taking the new route to a village that jeopardized lives, and much more. Coming from a broken marriage, he knew the importance of love and family support, which is why he chose wisely the second time around and did his best to make his family live happy and comfortable in whatever way he could, despite his long absences due to the call of duty.

Death – Inevitable or Tragedy?

Death – inevitable or tragedy? It’s a big question that often plays in people’s minds. From popular fiction to films, one will find several references to the death – inevitable or tragedy theme. Though being born inevitably means dying one day, death is still a subject that’s dismal and oppressive for a majority. For those in the armed forces, death is inevitable, yet unexpected – at times. But those who think death is inevitable and life is meaningless should think again because despite a looming death that’s unavoidable, it pays to live life to the fullest and rest on the deathbed thinking of having spent a happy and satisfied life. And that’s exactly what Mingin Irn’s book titled “The Sea of Feed” showcases.

In his book, US war veteran Mingin Irn talks about his and his father’s close encounters with death. He depicts several scenes in the war zones where death looms heavy and makes several soldiers its prey though it misses the author and his father, often by a whisker. Sometimes, the author and his team had to take upon the enemy – one round after another, and even during instances when they were hanging by a thread between life and death, they would stand their ground relentlessly. As a soldier, the author says that death was always present in the ambiance. Yet, when it came to the question of “death – inevitable or tragedy?” the men in uniform always took great pride in fighting for their country and sacrificing their lives for the cause.