The pacific after pearl harbor. Up next on American History tv, Navy Veterans who participated in the battle of midway recount their experiences. The American Veterans Center Hosted this 50minute panel discussion. My name is tim hobart. Im executive director of the American Veterans center and thank you for being here. This is our 20th year of this event, so its a very special year for us, and were very happy youre here. Of course, we really want to thank the Navy Memorial for their hospitality for this weekend. Theyve been great partners for us over the years. My only word that i really had to kick things off this morning is really for all the students that are with us here this weekend. I really encourage you to take all of this in from where we start with veterans of the battle of midway 75 years ago through 75 years of American Military history. This is your own past and present, and youre our future. So, this is a great opportunity, a once in a lifetime opportunity, and really mak
So its actually a tremendous honor for us to be here. And on a day like today, we use the term sea services, but in the end were all in it together. And i think these gentlemen here represent the idea of being all in it together. And i just want to say one thing about why im honored and why were honored to be here today and the opportunity you all have today. You know, when i looked at the program here and i look at words like trailblazers, legends, these are in the agenda. The last ace, leadership, saving lives, the greatest generation, the medal of honor, why we fought, valor, witness to history, and right here, the turn of the tide. It is an honor for us to be here. I hope you all really get a lot out of the next couple days, because as was just mentioned, this is literally an opportunity of a lifetime that we have over the next couple days to be able to listen to these great americans who literally gave of themselves and set an example and paved a path for us all to walk on. So, we
Memorial, great partners. My thing to kick things off with all the students with us this weekend, i really encourage you to take all of this in from where we start with veterans of the battle of midway 75 years ago through 45 years of American Military history. This is our past and your future and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Make the most of it. Id like to welcome admiral frank thorpe to say a few words of welcome before we get started. Good morning. Welcome to the navy memorial. As you all know, our mission here is to honor, recognize and celebrate the men and women of the sea services, past, present and future. And to educate the American Public about your service. Its actually a tremendous honor for us to be here. On a day like today we use the term sea services. Were all in it together. I think these gentleman right here represent the idea of being all in it together. I want to say one thing why were honored and the opportunity you have today. When i look at words lik
I want to say one thing why were honored and the opportunity you have today. When i look at words like trail blazers legends, the last ace, the medal of honor, why we fought, valor, witness to history, and right here, the turn of the tide. It is an honor to be here. I hope you get a lot out the next couple of days, as was just mentioned this is the opportunity of a lifetime that we have to listen to these great americans who set an example and paved a path for us to walk on. Welcome to the navy memorial. I hope you appreciate the hospitality. When i say that, i hope we make it as great as we can be to make your experience as great as it can be in the next two days. I will welcome craig to introduce the next panel. Good morning. My name is craig horn. This morning, we will begin an adventure so when we look back we can see further ahead. Its often been said ignorance of the past can create irresponsibility in the present. Its my pleasure to introduce richard b. Frank, an internationally
I will welcome craig to introduce the next panel. Good morning. My name is craig horn. This morning, we will begin an adventure so when we look back we can see further ahead. Its often been said ignorance of the past can create irresponsibility in the present. Its my pleasure to introduce richard b. Frank, an internationally historian of the Asian Pacific world war. He was consultant for the hbo World War Ii Special on the pacific. In that he wrote, and i quote, the pacific war will inspire a long overdue reawakening of the strategic importance, sheer scale and unsurpassed savagetry of the wars unleashed by japan. The battle of midway was the turning of the tide. Please welcome, mr. Richard b. Frank. [ applause ] thank you very much. Thank you for those kind remarks. Were here in the 75th anniversary of the battle of midway. It is a perennial list of the most important battle for world war ii. Often cited as the single most important naval battle in the United States naval history. Its