For those 11W fans of military history, I wanted to provide a few links to commemorate the 73rd Anniversary of the Battle of Midway.  Many people have seen the 1976 movie Midway starring Henry Fonda, Glenn Ford, Hal Holbrook, Eddie Albert and Charlton Heston (I will have my copy on continuous loop tonight). It's a great flick, but if that's all you've learned about Midway you've missed out.  Midway is without a doubt one of the most pivotal and influential battles of World War II, serving as the turning point in the Pacific that turned back Japanese expansion in the Pacific and allowed the U.S. to focus on Europe and the Nazis.

As a Naval Aviator I have always been amazed with the leadership and decision making that led to the victory at Midway.  Some have characterized the U.S. success as luck or a miracle.  I, however, subscribe to Dr. Craig Symonds' assertion that it was the combination of leadership and bold action by Americans at the strategic, operational and tactical levels that enabled the joint Naval, Marine and Air Corps forces to prevent the Japanese invasion of Midway and to destroy the bulk of the Japanese carrier striking force. If you can get a copy of his book, The Battle of Midway, I highly recommend it.

For more on Midway, I submit these links.

http://www.usni.org/magazines/navalhistory/2007-06/putting-midway-miracl...

http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-midway-begins

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Midway

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/407644/73rd-anniversary-battle-midway-cel...

If you get the opportunity to hoist a frosty mug this evening, please take a moment to remember Wade McClusky, Max Leslie, John C. Waldron, Richard E. Flemming (USMC CMoH winner), and all the sailors and airmen who gave everything at Midway.  Have a great weekend, and stay classy 11 Warriors.