Capt. Kelly McDowell, Submarine Group Ten chief of staff, speaks at the Battle of Midway memorial ceremony June 4 at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay’s Submarine Veterans of World War II Memorial Pavilion.
Naval Submarine Base King’s Bay took part on Monday in Navy-wide commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the 1942 Battle of Midway, widely regarded as the turning point of the Pacific Theater of World War II.
In a ceremony overseen by CMDCM James Schubert, a 29-year Navy veteran and Kings Bay’s Command Master Chief, Installation Commander Capt. John O’Neil and Submarine Group Ten Chief of Staff Capt.Kelly McDowell laid a ceremonial wreath on Kings Bay’s World War II Memorial.
In his remarks, Cap. O’Neil stressed the importance of remembering and applying the lessons of our naval heritage and relayed the Chief of Naval Operations’ message to all Sailors: “This historic victory at Midway can be attributed to traits that continue in our Navy today: bold, confident, and proficient sailors willing to go into harm’s way with well-built, resilient ships and aircraft. Our Sailors and Marines demonstrate this same warfighting ethos today as they face unique and demanding challenges, on land and sea, operating forward deployed, fully ready, around the globe.
This legacy is built on the foundation of veterans, like those at Midway, who have blazed the trail before us. Let us never forget those veterans and their legacy. They shaped world events for many years and will continue to do so, for it is in our DNA. As navy professionals, it is up to us to preserve and celebrate our rich history, knowing that understanding the past will empower us to overcome future challenges.”
Capt. McDowell spoke to the assembled sailors on the importance and lessons of the battle, reminding them that, “It isn’t merely enough to survive, we must win and prevail. Adversaries shoot back, and there is no second place.”
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