Gentle Readers,

On 09 July, 2022, Kimo Fanell and I had a chance to give a presentation to the Docents and volunteers who support one of America’s national treasures- the museum ship USS Midway (CV-41). It is an emotional memorial to those who served within her gracious steel embrace across the World Ocean, and stands for the global peace after WW II that made our world a more free and prosperous place. That includes all those who served in all those mighty ships, for in their way, they are all brothers and sisters in a national effort across more than fifty years of the American Century. In a separate effort, we are compiling an account of the last Cold War cruise of USS Forrestal, the first of the super-carriers, a big proud ship now broken and gone.

The occasion of this presentation was the 80th Anniversary of the battle at Midway. It may be fairly characterized as the most significant naval battle since Trafalgar. Kimo and I had the opportunity to know one of the members of the Codebreaking Section of Station HYPO. RADM Donald “Mac” Showers was one of our heroes, and he kindly shared his time and memories to ensure that they were passed along in the spirit in which he lived. It became our duty to share them further. Please scroll below to the link to view the call. Let me know if you need assistance in connecting!

Liza Aguirre-Oviedo compiled the Zoom call that can be found at the embedded link below this little piece of prose. It is based on the recent book “Cocktails With the Admiral,” published at Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, DC. The Zoom call attempts to capture some of the moments in Admiral Shower’s remarkable life, from the farmland of Iowa in Depression days to a moment when Jasper Holmes stopped at the corner of Mac’s desk in the narrow confines of The Dungeon in Pearl Harbor to outline his plan to get Admiral Yamamoto’s planners to reveal the target of their attack to finish off the United States Navy.

There is much more. This call was grand fun, and included laughter and tears. The emotion for all concerned was plain and clear. Support to the Midway Museum will hel keep memory alive for all those who have gone down to the sea in ships. For the sacrifice of generations of those who served, and for the dedication of the people who keep those memories alive.

If you find yourself in San Diego, please consider a trip to visit Midway yourself and feel her living spirit. A visit last year with my sons, standing with them in Ready Room Two, my ‘home’ for two years, is one of the most precious times in my life. Support Midway. Remember those who served. And as we confront the future that looms before us, remember the strength of those who have gone before, and their gift to those of us who live in the world that they gave to us.

Copyright 2022 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com