Chief of Naval Operations Headlines the 69th Anniversary
Free and open to the public
Naval District Washington will host the Battle of Midway commemoration on the 69th anniversary of the historic battle. During the ceremony, guest speaker Adm. Gary Roughead, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, will recognize and honor several veterans who survived the battle.
On June 4, 1942, a vastly outnumbered and outgunned U.S. fleet defeated the finest of the Imperial Japanese navy in the waters off a small Pacific atoll named Midway. Their daring combination of intelligence, tactics, courage and sacrifice forever changed the course of the war and world history. It is believed by many military scholars to be the most important of American naval victories and turned the tide of the war in the Pacific.
Five surviving Battle of Midway veterans will be in attendance and available for interviews. Their bios are as follows:
Captain Jack Crawford, USN (Ret.), of Bethesda, Maryland, was serving as a newly-minted surface warfare officer aboard USS Yorktown when it was attacked during the Battle of Midway. He abandoned ship and was rescued by a nearby ship after spending a few hours in the ocean. After more than 20 years in the Navy, he retired and pursued a second career in nuclear engineering and is a pioneer in the field of nuclear propulsion. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Captain Ken W. Simmons, USN (Ret.), of Alexandria, Virginia, served in the Navy for twenty-eight years, after receiving a commission from the Naval Academy. Captain Simmons served as a turret officer aboard USS Minneapolis during Midway. After Midway, Captain Simmons went on to command the destroyer escort USS Greenwood, the destroyer USS Stribling, and the cruiser USS Oklahoma City, the flagship of the 7th Fleet.
Retired Marine Corps Maj. Albert Grasselli, also a Pearl Harbor survivor, was a member of Marine Air Group 21 stationed at Ewa Marine Air approximately 15 miles west of Pearl Harbor. Grasselli participated in the Battle of Midway Island as one of the first designated aerial navigators in Marine aviation history. He navigated 24 planes safely into Midway where he witnessed the devastation. After completing flight school, he flew support missions in the South Pacific, including flights delivering Col. Charles Lindberg and other well known celebrities to various military facilities.
Lieutenant Paul Muzychenko, USN (Ret.), of Sparks, Nevada, served in the Navy for fifteen years, working his way up the ranks from an enlisted position to a Lieutenant (jg). During Miday, he served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Minneapolis, which helped protect the American carriers against Japanese air attack. After leaving the Navy, Lieutenant Muzychenko retired to Sparks, Nevada.
Retired Navy Cmdr. Chester Rief, of Chasaa, Minnesota, served in the Navy for 27 years after being commissioned in December of 1941 following the completion of flight training in Pensacola, Fl. During the Battle of Midway, Cmdr. Rief was assigned to Patrol Squadron 11 (VP-11), whose primary mission was to fly torpedo attack missions. Rief and his crewmembers spent several days staged at NAS Johnson Island searching for Japanese naval ships. After a lengthy and satisfying naval career Cmdr. Rief retired and ultimately settled in Albany, Georgia.
Chief Earnest Ray Johnston joined the Navy when he was 24. He became a member of the Scouting Squadron Eight (VS-8) and shipped out to the West Coast on the USS Hornet CV-8. Chief Johnston was a rear gunner on a two-man plane. After serving for six years he left the Navy for school then returned to service after 20 months. He served for the remainder of 20 years and retired as ‘Chief’ E-7, and shortly after joined the ranks of the Naval Civil Service employees. Chief Johnston resides in Alexandria, Virginia.
There is more detailed information about the Battle of Midway in the International Midway Memorial Foundation's online newsletter.