Midway Honors World War II Heroes Lying about his age, he was only 16 years old when he joined the Navy in 1943. Within months of his enlistment, Al Hansen came face to face with the enemy flying as a gunner on a Navy patrol bomber in the Pacific Theater.
"It was important for us to meet them so that we have a better understanding of our history,” said Brittani Landy, who was visiting Midway with her husband Tim and son Luke. “This helps us understand the sacrifices they made and how they fought for the freedoms that we all enjoy today.”
“I wasn’t scared,” remembered the 98-year-old Hansen, who flew more than 20 combat missions during the war. “When you’re 16 years old, nothing can happen to you, but it turned a 16 year-old kid into a man overnight.” Hansen was one of 10 World War II veterans who were honored during the USS Midway Museum’s “Heroes Among Us” tribute held in conjunction with this year’s 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The event was a rare and powerful opportunity to meet these humble heroes who personify America’s Greatest Generation. The veterans, who represented the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Army Air Corps and Coast Guard, gathered on Midway’s hangar deck to interact with museum guests and hear their stories. For museum visitors, the event was more than just a “meet & greet,” it was a chance to pay tribute and thank those men and women who answered the call of duty more than eight decades ago, and fought for freedom and democracy on battlefields around the world.
Brittani Landy, and her husband Tim and son Luke, talk to Navy veteran Roy Mosteller.
“It is up to us to let people know there are some of us military veterans still left from World War II,” said 101-year-old Walt Travis, who served with a Marine Corps fighter squadron that was deployed to Guadalcanal, New Guinea and the Philippines during the war. “People need to hear our stories, and see that we made a difference for America and the world.”
Back row (l to r) – Marine Corps veteran, Roberta “Randy” Tidmore; Navy veteran, Art Dioli; Army Air Corps veteran, Fred Taylor; and Navy veteran, Al Hansen. Front row – Navy veteran, Roy Mosteller; Army veteran, Calvin Shiner; Navy veteran, Royce Williams; Coast Guard veteran, Ena Slaughter; Army veteran, Max Gurney; and Marine Corps veteran, Walter Travis.
8 SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / November 2025
More than 16 million Americans wore the uniform of the nation during World War II. Sadly, it is estimated that fewer than 100,000 of these veterans are still alive today. Meeting the World War II veterans on Midway was a chance to ensure the service and sacrifices of the Greatest Generation are never forgotten.