Posted on 02/18/2017 10:57:53 AM PST by Peter Gunn
"I was in a funny position to be cheering for the thing, but I was really tickled to see the dive bombers really pasting them even though they were in pretty bad shape. But during the afternoon after they pretty well burned themselves up, the larger one close to me there, the Akagi, sank just after dark, the cruisers raked her with fire finished her off, and the other two, the Kaga and the Soryu, burned all night, but they didn't necessarily explode. As a matter of fact, the Japs were there trying to put the fires out. I could seem them playing around, searchlights, picking up people and trying, I think they were trying to salvage these two ships; but the explosions that I heard the next morning turned out to be our submarines putting torpedoes into these things and they finished them off. That was early the next morning just as dawn was cracking."
(Excerpt) Read more at ibiblio.org ...
Today I am reminded of Ensign George Gay of Torpedo Squadron Eight at the Battle of Midway.
His squadron and aircraft destroyed, Ensign Gay watched the Battle of Midway. It must have been both frightening and spectacular.
I mention Ensign Gay because he saw history, up close, as it happened. Compared to George Gay I am a candle in the Sun, but I thought of him as I sit watching history unfold.
I recently wrote a helpful note to 'the media'. They would benefit from knowing about certain aspects of the battle.
I wrote:
It appears 'the media' needs some help. Perhaps I can offer a few, simple suggestions.
1. Learn about the Battle of Midway. How did we find out where 'AF' was?
2. Follow Steve Bannon's advice. Seriously. Shut up and Listen.
3. President Trump has been cautioning you about something. What is that?
4. Divorce yourself from your emotions. Listen to his words instead of reacting to them. Those of us with customer service experience are quite familiar with this.
He has told you what you need to know. I give him credit for trying extra hard. May I humbly suggest you watch a few episodes of 'Columbo' to gain better insight on your lamentable, tragic flaw. (This would benefit many others as well).
5. He has told you quite plainly. It was his last hint, or warning. 'The leaks are real'. The 'news' is fake. Consider your answer to question '1' above when contemplating your answer to question 5: What was President Trump trying to tell you?
6. I'm afraid it's now too late for some of you to have come to the understanding I have offered you. The National Guard memo was your last chance at avoiding a penalty. President Trump was very fair about this.
7. I was thrilled to hear that President Trump identified just some of you. It was a very strong statement for a President to make, don't you think? I'm glad some of you made the right choice for our country.
I hope this helps. I really do. We need your profession. We don't really need you, though. Journalism will survive this and we will all be better for it.
I'll continue to help when I can. Good luck.
So that's the helpful note I sent to the NYT and other media outlets.
The Japanese risked and lost a lot at Midway. Many of you already know the decisive role the battle played. President Trump's recent tweet listing 'at risk' media outlets "failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN" sounding to me like another list that is familiar to me: Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, and Soryu.
Thank you,
Peter
Your suggestions have a great deal of merit. However, and unfortunately, they are predicated upon the idea that the media are capable of learning. I really think that they are past the point of learning, because they have believed their own hype for decades. hey really do believe that they are the only people with genuine insight and wisdom. And if you think you know everything, you have no capacity to learn anything.
Good stuff - post more often!
“Journalism will survive this and we will all be better for it.”
I would pay money to hear Trump utter that line.
Welcome to Free Republic.
Re my tag line.
Good post.
Welcome to FR.
5.56mm
All nicely thought through. Thanks for the parallel. Best line: “We don’t really need you, though. Journalism will survive this and we will all be better for it.”
FYI, several years ago I wrote a novel about Midway, but a countetfactual called “Halsey’s Bluff” in which the Japanese win the battle, Halsey—not Spruance is in charge—and then the real excitement begins. I had all details vetted by the Battle of Midway Roundtable guys.
Why am I hearing a bass intro, bum-bum-bum-bum-bumidum-bum-bum..., followed by brassy trumpets? THAT Peter Gunn?
This is the problem altogether too many of us in conservative circles have: we believe that argumentation will have some effect on our opposition, but there is literally no point in "arguing" with someone whose ideology is not factually based, and is, instead, a religion.
I'm not alt-Right myself, and neither is Steve Bannon, but he reads the alt-Right and has provided some platform for them at times, and I would say one of the few things Vox Day has completely correct is: it is pointless to have logical arguments with (or issue fact-based warnings to) raw emoters. Emoters must be dealt with by entirely rhetorical means.
And this is what I think Trump is doing. He is making an excellent rhetorical presentation, and it is not aimed at the priests, or their choirs and acolytes. He is targeting those naturally (that is emotionally) inclined to their positions that we can persuade.
Which aircraft carrier was Hillary?
Midway has many great stories. The AF thing has been portrayed in movies, such as In Harm’s Way. Lesser known but fascinating is the role played by the US submarine Nautilus.
Chicago’s airports, Midway and O’Hare, both got their names in the patriotic fervor that was smothered by the Vietnam war.
Best theme song in the history of television:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oysMt8iL9UE
Just to keep it on-topic this came out 16 years after the Battle of Midway.
Thanks for posting - excellent!!
Great post!
Welcome aboard.
The Doolittle raid, then the battle of Coral Sea caused the acts of risky desperation by the Japanese, sort of like the ‘Rats today.
Yes, THAT Peter Gunn. I did not choose this name, however. I believe my mother was fond of the actor who played Peter Gunn ...
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