FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2017
Eye on the Fleet
Battle of midway
VOL. 17 NO. 22
(June 4, 1942) TBD-1 aircraft of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT) 6 prepare to launch from USS Enterprise (CV-6) in the early morning hours at the start of the Battle of Midway.
U.S. Navy History and Heritage National Archives
inside: SAPR VA Sailors earn certs. . . . . . . . . 2 SPOTLIGHT Command recognition . . . . 2 VIP ONBOARD Homeland Security. . . . . . . . 3 DOLPHIN DERBY Family fishing fun. . . . . . . . . 4 TOP OF PAGE ONE: A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighter takes off from USS Yorktown (CV 5) on combat air patrol during the morning of June 4, 1942. The plane, from Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3), flown by the squadron Executive Officer Lt. j.g. William Leonard.
WWW.CNIC.NAVY.MIL/KEYWEST NAVAL AIR STATION KEY WEST, FLORIDA
NAS ceremony to commemorate Battle of Midway
Fair winds, following seas
From NAS Key West Public Affairs
O
n June 5, Sailors worldwide will pause to remember the World War II Battle of Midway and the significance it played in establishing the U.S. Navy’s superiority on the seas. Naval Air Station Key West commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Midway with a 9 a.m. ceremony at Bayview Park in Key West. The public is invited to attend this recognition. The Battle of Midway was fought from June 4 - 7 near the Central Pacific island of Midway, the battle was considered the deciding battle of the war in the Pacific theater of WWII. Before this battle, the Japanese were on the offensive, capturing territories throughout Asia and the Pacific and had planned to capture Midway to use as an advance base, as well as to entrap and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Because of communication intelligence successes, the U.S. Pacific Fleet surprised the Japanese forces. And with the grit and determination of Sailors and aviators - led by the likes of admirals Chester W. Nimitz, Frank “Jack” Fletcher and Raymond A. Spruance, American forces sank four of the same Japanese carriers see Midway page 3
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U.S. Navy photo by Jolene Scholl
aval Air Station Key West Security Officer Lt. Cmdr. Michael Rickett joins Commanding Officer Capt. Bobby Baker in laughing at a remark made by the guest speaker, Rickett’s wife of 27 years, Sandy, during his retirement ceremony May 26 at the Truman Chapel. Rickett retires after 30 years of active service, having joined the Navy in 1987, during which time he rose from recruit to chief petty officer before commissioning as an officer. He has served at 12 commands, ranging from a guided-missile cruiser, an amphibious assault ship and aircraft carrier, as well at Seabee and Marine installations stateside and in Bahrain before his final tour as security officer at NAS Key West. See more photos on page 6.
Navy celebrates 2017 LGBT Pride Month From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
T
he Navy joins the nation in recognizing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride
Month throughout June. ALNAV 006/17 encourages participation in all the heritage celebrations and special observances throughout the year. The Department of Defense began
observing LGBT Pride Month in 2012. Initially established as “Gay and Lesbian Month” by Presidential Proclamation in 2000, LGBT Pride Month recognizes the accomplish-
ments of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The LGBT community is part of One Navy Team that contributes their diverse talents, skills and service to the strength
of the force. “To remain the finest seagoing fighting force, the Navy needs men and women who are the right fit for the right job regardless of race, gender, see LGBT page 3