Reflections of Midway
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2013
- A slide show of Midway Island, showing several photos of my 12 years on the island. Several friends also permitted me to include their photos too. Once you've been to Midway, you can hardly get it out of your head.
I was an ET stationed on Eastern Island in 1966. I consider myself very fortunate to have experienced such an incredible place so rich in biodiversity and history. I wish I could go back to with my wife to share this amazing place. 10:59
for everyone who has been there,,,, you are very lucky ,, cool
My family lived on Midway ( Sand Island ) from 1958-1960 while the island was still in the hands on the Navy. I see more structures there then when we lived there. Wish I could go back - beautiful place to live.Thanks for posting.
I was stationed on the USS Reclaimer ARS 42, 1970-1972, when we had the pleasure of docking on Midway, several times during our westpac to Vietnam. During the last stopover there, I had easily, convinced a small group of shipmates to attempt to walk the islands coastline, on one beautiful day. We almost made it, except for when we ran across the far end of the runway that ended at the sea. We were spotted by an incoming cargo plane, as it landed, just passing above us, as we made a run for it. Shortly after, we were picked up by an open top Jeep patrol and quickly dispatched back to our ship. Still a magical day of exploration, I’ll never forget, I hope all who made the
Trek, will remember it as fondly.
Thank You for an excellent video 🙏Beautifully done👍 it helped me, after all these years, to complete my walk around the Island 🙂
Nice! This rips my heart out, my home town lost to me, unable to return... a heart lost, a love afar, time does not heal a longing nor bring rest, unable to live in the home of the soul. Feeling lost to me. My longing, my Midway.
Thank a liberal
nice job mike,, i love it,,, want to visit it someday,,, wow
My very first youtube upload.
Although it has been 6 years since you uploaded and possibilities exist of you and or other's who contributed not being with us any longer, I pray you are and wish to thank you for providing...I suffered a near-fatal heart attack ~ 6 weeks ago & all I could think of during those moments of going in and out of consciousness were my kids, my mother who recently passed, God and all the things I planned to do before I left this earth with #1 being retracing steps of America's Greatest Generation in Europe through to the Pacific...including Midway Atoll, Wake Island and so many others. I have always stated and has been said about me that I was born seemingly in the wrong generation...several beyond that which my ideologies, beliefs, and convictions align with w respect to the social norm...I'm 53yr old which is old although prior to this event I do not look my age did not feel I was old yet realized years have passed me by and perhaps my life has...I'm fiercely patriotic, protective over my kids/family, flag and country..place a priority on integrity, honor, and principles...Not believing in 100 shades of grey but in absolutes, rights, and wrongs and the importance of a handshake and a man's word; also consequences for not honoring one's word...not hesitate to defend my Country, family or faith... belief in disciplining children and accountability for adults (my kids...which they are remarkable young adults now)...Recognizing my life, although often challenging, against odds with many hurdles and injustices it was still up to me to survive and overcome...not demand to be respected or entitled to anything--must earn one's way...the people, the nation which changed the history of America and the World who were stationed on that island and or who were on ships off the shores of that remote, desolate atoll would be shocked to see America of today ...so many final steps on mother earth were taken there as many took off in SBDs (Scout Bomber Douglas)) & other aircraft from Henderson Field only to be meet a horrific fate, slaughtered by large caliber bullets, ripping them part or causing them to burn to death or both and for those who may have survived all of that would only suffer more by drowning...yet those brave young men made the choice to do what they did so we can do what we do today...which if they could see America today would be sickened and not so anxious to defend her IMO...truly pathetic what politicians have allowed or caused this country to be molded into for the most part; as most of their objectives don't honor those who served @ Midway and elsewhere...w these Mega propaganda platforms which would have been the envy of J Goebbels the management behind this and other social platforms are determined, obsessed w rewriting history, erasing history which they themselves are ignorant of...they have never walked in the shoes or along the path of facing death for liberty yet they sure take advantage of it ...so many today view things in hindsight which is a convenient excuse to validate decisions made which they object, state are offensive or is "___ists" (u fill in the word) ... not realizing a fist or a beating is much worse than any words as I learned as a kid sticks and stones...but words...please...sadly, so many believe they can force changes of history although they didnt exist at the time of the event...America is slowly eroding as the sea walls are there @ Midway...Many American's today are like the Albatross the Goonie Birds who make a lot of noise, overrun nearly everything leaving feces and destruction; cause dangers for those attempting to arrive and depart and demand we avoid them vs them avoid us...continue this path one day, neither will exist...unless the changes are profound and occur soon IMO...Apologize for the philosophical rant but the music, the location, and the facts which surround that place caused these feelings to rise to the surface...Take Care and God Bless
i lived on Midway 1965 or so went to school there , walked around the island everyday hunting for fishballs and other items. This brought back a lot of great memories, thanks
I was there around that time CB's!
Thank you for bringing me back to memory lane Sir. Fond memories of my first assignment of my 20+ years serving in the Navy, and It’s as beautiful as the way I remembered it back in 1980-1981. I was assigned to the Crash and fire rescue department fulfilling the needs of a ready standby crew for the Island’s Emergency needs. A lot of training drills, and maintenance of our equipment, always filled our days of 4 days on, and 4 days off. Lots of scuba diving, and some fishing of tuna just outside of the reef. And of course the ever presence of 500,000 Gooney Birds that inhabited the Island. Definitely made the most of what little we had at the time, but with isolated duty Uncle Sam gave me, it was an experience I will forever remember......thanks again for sharing 😇🇺🇸🇵🇭🇺🇸🇵🇭🇺🇸🙏⚓️⚓️👍USN. Retired 1979-1999 Midway Island 1980-1981
it was my first base. 79-80 . plumbing ac,r boilers water. seabees..
I showed my mother your other video on Midway...she was in shock :( we lived there in 73-76..NAVY BRAT :) Some of the best memories with the gooney birds and canaries that would come every year ...AMAZING place (Y)
Great video. Thanks!
I was station there 1962 thru 1964. It was beautiful.
I still have the island year book from 1963 64 in mint condition. Look through it about every five years or so. Never forget it. The birds have taken it over now. When I was there the military kept the bird population under control if you know what I mean. Because of the early warning squadron with round the clock barrier flight to 40 north and back.
Thanks for the memories! I spent over 14 months there in 1964/65. Looks different in the photos but nevertheless recognizable. Thank you!
Wonderful job, Mike! Brought back many fond memories of the times Tom and I were privileged to visit there! Nice seeing an occasional picture of my daughter, Heidi, while she was living on Midway.
My husband and I were stationed there 1969 - 1972. We loved did. Our daughter was 2 when I had to leave because my father was seriously ill and I was needed state side. I loved living there
Bonnie Herndon you would have known my dad Earl Smith and my mom Judy Smith... we were there at that same time... my mother was from Trinidad and Tobago... so her accent would have stood out...lol I’m working on Guam right now and this island is so corrupt but I’m living full time in Bohol/ Cebu Philippines ... I was born in NAS Sangley Point, Cavite Philippines ... Lived most my life in Boca Raton, Florida and Florida Keys But I packed up in 2015 and moved to the Philippines
Maybe you knew Helen Foulks from the radio station. My dad Lee Foulks, Petty Officer in shop. I was there in 67-69 at 8 years old.
I was stationed on the USS Reclaimer ARS 42, 1970-1972, when we had the pleasure of docking on Midway, several times during our westpac to Vietnam. During the last stopover there, I had easily convinced a small group of shipmates to attempt to walk the islands coastline, on a beautiful day. We almost made it, except when we ran across the far end of the runway, that ended at the seashore, we were spotted by an incoming cargo plane, as it landed, just passing above us. We were shortly picked up by an open top Jeep patrol and dispatched back to our ship. Still a magical day of exploration, I’ll never forget, I hope all will remember it as fondly.
I’m envious, of your stay, sorry your stay was cut short as well. I hope all is well with you and yours, today...
I spent almost a year on that island in the military it had alot of barracks and officier housing plus there was alot of wreckage on the beaches, this was in the middle 1960's!
Epic, thanks Mike
wow. memory lane there. 1963, 1964 with my dad Reg Cauble in the tweet shop. He also started some sports leagues and umpiring there if I recall correctly. Did his last boxing match there too.
awesome mike great video thanks
Well its been a long time since I looked at midway island,,you see I live on the atoll in the 60s when my father was stationed at midway ,I went to second grade George Cannon if my mind remembers correctly what a wonderful place to explore as a youth fond and wonderful memories oh yeh!,,,,!,,saw BobHope USO show on the tarmac like 2:00 am thanks for the memories peace and love
Very nice Mike. Looks like the birds finely won. I was stationed there 78-79. I recognized many locations. Miss the diving. Was a member of Koral Kings. Wonder if those giant sharks still hang out in the narrow pass between Eastern Island and the reef. Would love to return for a visit
thanks Mike. awesome video.
I wish they still did tours of the Island. I'd love to see this first hand. So much history there.
Liberals fucked that up
Must be special trips there for those who cab afford it!
As a WW2 buff have only read of MIDWAYS strategic value as a sub re-fueling and maintenance base; saving a long trip back to Pearl Harbor and of subs like USS WAHOO who left MIDWAY on war patrol never to be heard from again on eternal patrol till discovered in 2006.
I lived on Midway island when I was 7&8 years in summer 67, to December 1969.
I was stationed there in July 1981to Feb 82. I closed down the Flight Service Station for the Navy and trained a few controllers who went on strike. They were contract Controllers.
Crash crew- need a truck for a runway sweep - remember that
A place you want to go to, regardless of your age and physical limitations.
Was stationed there from Oct. '81 till Feb. '82. Navy was turning the island over to civilian contractors. Beautiful island.
I was there then too.
Alot of memoties come back watching this. 1965, the USAF set up an ENROUTE SQUADRON for aircraft headed and returning from Vietnam. One memory was of C-135 returning to the states with KIA. The aircraft was grounded for essential repairs and it was going to take a day or two. The bodies were off loaded and stored in large refridgerator. Another evening a C-130 landed heading home. I went inside to debrief the crew for maintainance right ups, there were none. A fuel up and go. This aircraft was stuffed with troops and coffins. The air inside was stifling. I felt bad for those soldiers.
Those bodies were stored in the freezers at the general mess and the commissary until the repairs were done, but my recollection is that it was a c-133 not a 135 as jets normally avoided the island due to the birds.
It was a C-135,,,,,,C-133s were too unreliable to carry personel....dead or alive. I was surprised to see the jet land. Like you said bird strikes were a problem
I was lucky to visit back 2004 USAF
Sanford " Douglas" Lee was at Midway 1957-1960 in the Navy.
If any of you who loved Midway would see what it looks like today, it will make you cry. F-ing government.
As of this date, 4-11-2022, does anyone live on the island? It looks like a beautiful place.
Only a skeletal crew of contractors and s handful of USFWS employees live on the island now. I would estimate about a population of about 40. The USFWS is required to host a Public Visitor Program - but the public is kept far away. Even if you owned your own airplane or boat, you'd first need to declare an emergency to set foot of the island. Public Law 106 requires the USFWS to maintain historic structures, but they ignore that requirement too. The USFWS spent $30,000 for a Feasibility Study, to determine is a Public Visitor Program is feasible. In addition, a second Feasibility Study was produced - but the USFWS ignored both studies and continue to restrict the public from visiting the island. I predict legal action will be required to remove the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from having total jurisdiction of the island.
I was stationed there 1965 with search and rescue HU16 aircraft.
Carl Trinkle ....the Albatross!
I want to go so bad, although I realize it's basically impossible now as just a plain old tourist.
What years were you on Midway Island, Mike? Beautiful video. Thanks.
Do they get any weather extremes> typhoons?
Yes sir Mike I understand.
I'm confused were there naval families on the island?? Were you guys forced to leave? It saids on 60 people live there now according to Google .
xfiler2013 I lived on the island 52 to 54 I remember being very happy there it was a perfect place for a kid wounded around and explore. My dad was in the navy I'm not sure what he did there. The water was so green and I could. Walk out to p t boats and tanks until a large nurse shark came buy and they had to rescue me with boat never put a toe in the water again!
Families were there until sometime in the 70's or maybe 80's. The Navy just wasn't budgeting enough $ to maintain the housing and ancillary services for families so a decision was made, that all tours would be unaccompanied.
Great photo tour of Midway! Wish it was a regular destination one could visit, but perhaps turning it into a resort, that would damage it’s character. Seems like there is a bird problem....
1965......There were two 5 inch guns....Coastal defense.....Monument to the battle.....What happened to them?.
Gone just mounts remaining where they went who knows
Is the PAN AM hotel still there?
They had an arsonist after I left ..was with crash crew . ???
Idon't remember the little yellow bird.. 1963-1964 3rd grade
mr. & mrs. hill from the pan am. co.put the birds thir!!
They had canaries when I was there in 80 FWS probably killed them all because they were not induious to island. Cut down all trees on Eastern Island hope fairy terns came to Sand to survive.
WHAT A MESS ON MIDWAY, TO MANY BIRDS AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP, Minnesota killed a million birds over the winter of 2015 and 16, A Billionaire or a millionaire could turn midway into a beautiful place, And where tourist could enjoy the place, and have high traffic coming there. Some may want to live and build there.
It is a National Wildlife Refuge. You can't kill any of the birds. When I was there 1966=1968, I believe it was called a National Bird Sanctuary and you couldn't kill any birds. I believe pigeons were the exception since they weren't native (came there on ships).
Starting sometime in the early 60's I think it was, it was made an "overlay" bird sanctuary. It was that way 64-66 when I was there. Big trouble if you hurt a bird, or got them drunk (yes that was a thing at the em club).
Have you seen the pox?
i lived here 1979-80 july 4-july 4. navairsta. seabee. plumbing. ac,r water ,boilers Maintenace.. my first sea duty.. i wanted to stay,but was told no.. booo! id still be there..
Great Video, Thanks !