Consider adding your favorite Midway Story to our list.
A Russian Odyssey –by island doctor Lance Ray, for The Midway Journal.
Bob Wilson – Mini Mustang Story – Round-the-world Midway stop over
Dusty’s Stories – Midway 1963 – 1964
Fran Kraus – George Cannon Teacher Story – December 1, 1968 – June 1970
Gene Kemmeter – Columnist – Earl safe in Honolulu, December 10, 1941
John Cameron’s Odyssey – Midway Island –The Wandering Minstrel,
Chapters 9 and 10 of John Cameron’s Book of 1888
Lisa Brackin Stories – Born on Midway – Return to Midway 1997 – 1998
Mike Daak Stories – Midway Island – 1983 – 2002
Multiple Stories, by Allen Ripingill – Views of a 6/7 year old – Midway 1951-1952
Nixon at Midway – June 8, 1969
The Midway Tragedy – A follow-on story of The Wandering Minstrel,
to Chapters 9 and 10 of John Cameron’s Book of 1888
The Story of PBY Strawberry 5 – The story of PBY-5A CATALINA (Strawberry 5) discovery and restoration for the US Navy museum in San Diego . It was the only remaining intact PBY 5 Catalina remaining in the World, and it was discovered in South Africa.
Wayman L.McElhaney Stories – The Story Teller – Midway Island – 1951 – 1952
Welford Sims Stories – Midway Island – 1957 – 1958
Yvonne Pittenger Stories – Midway Island – 1968 – 1969
I love Midway! I was 16 and in high school. I fell in love with a sailor. His name was Danny Hutchins. He got me pregnant, and I had to leave Midway before I graduated from high school. He never stood by me, and I was left with dealing with my situation with my family by myself. It was a terrible time for me. Well, I had a baby boy and my parents adopted the child. I graduated and moved away from home. My mother so loved and took care of the baby I had. I became a successful businesswoman and will only look back to Midway as a paradise on earth.
Great stories! I was stationed at Navfac Midway 79-80. Some of my fondest memories of 22 year career. Sad to learn it hasn’t been cared for.
I was the CIC crew leader for C-20 in VW-12, from 1959, until we merged with flight crew F-35 into AEWBARRONPAC, formed in January 1960. I was still the CIC crew leader when 16 Checkpool crashed on landing, January 22, 1961. We lost six of the crew: LTJG Edward Mills, ACW2 James Koehn, ACW3 Jan Waddingham, AT3 David Turner, AT3 William Long and AT3 Robert Baxter. There were three firefighters manning the runway emergency stand, who were killed when our plane struck their truck.
Do you remember a LT Frank Margulis?
Stationed on Midway as part of the AEWBARONPAC ramp service crew 1962 to 1963. Loved it there and always wanted to be able to return for a visit. My first license was a government license for the fuel trucks. Even got court martialed for getting a sever sunburn when I walked around the island in a swim suit and my flip flops. Remember 10 cent beer at the EM Club and sneaking into the Acey Ducey Club for hard liquor, and steak barbeques on the beach on our days off. Great memories.
I was with the AEW crews from 1963 to 1964. My recollection was a little different than the story I just read. I was in flight crew F-19. I was an ATW 3. We would be at Barbers point for 2 weeks at a time and deployed to Midway for 2 weeks. I logged just over 2,000 hours in the EC121Ks as a radar operator. When I was there Eastern Island was uninhabited with the exception of the birds. It was off limits and no one went there.
My family lived there for a year and a half in the mid fifties. It was the best time of our lives. I still treasure all of the shells, coral and fish balls that we collected, as well as the wonderful memories. I wasn’t able to make it back for the short time that they made it a resort, but would love to visit. Is it possible to go there at this time? My dad said back then that it would be a great resort and I’m surprised that it didn’t catch on. A true paradise.
Linda Bryan
Spent almost 18 months with AEWBARRONPAC, 15 months on Midwy, 1960 to1961. Two TDY tours of 1 month each, followed by 13 month PCS TOUR.
AMH2.