This Week in History

The first week of June, has three of the most important events in our nation's history.

June 4th, 1942 - The Battle of Midway begins.

An outgunned American Carrier group, which was commended by the second string (Adm. Spruance) because the first string hospitalized. Defeated a Japanese Task force.
First, the challenge of finding the enemy.
Second, overcoming incomplete reports of the enemy.
Third, fighting on even when the battle plan falls apart. Torpedo 8 attacking the Japanese carriers without fighter protection and without the dive bombers. Torpedo 8 lost all of its aircraft, had only one pilot survive, and inflected no damage, but its heroic attack did bring the Japanese fighters down to sea level and make it easier for the next wave of Americans to attack.
Fourth, sinking three Japanese Carriers and severely damaging a fourth in a 10 minute dive bomber attack -
VICTORY for the U.S. - - -Japan is now on the defensive.

June 5th, 1968 - Robert F. Kennedy killed.

A sad day for American politics, to have a candidate killed.
Sirhan Sirhan - a Palestinian, shot RFK at close range just after RFK took the lead in the race for the Democratic nomination.

June 6th, 1944 - D-Day

The invasion of Europe, the largest invasion in history. (The planned invasion of Japan in 1945 would have been much larger and done over far greater distance.)
Gold, Juno, Sword, Utah, and Omaha - the 5 beaches.
Omaha was the worst, the troops had to travel farther in the assault boats, they suffered the highest rate of death, 'Bloody Omaha' was pure hell on 6/6/44. But the Allies, didn't quit, didn't turn back, the troops pressed onward and secured a bloody VICTORY for democracy.

On the other side of the world, The US Marines invaded Saipan on 6/6/44. An island battle that was as bloody as the invasion of Europe.

Three events which have profoundly shaped America and the world.