Midway by Peter C. Smith

Author:Peter C. Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Midway: Dauntless Victory
ISBN: 9781844155835
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books
Published: 2008-03-25T00:00:00+00:00

Part Three

Duel to the Death

Chapter Eight

One Against Three

With three-quarters of the proud Japanese carrier fleet blasted and burning before their eyes, the fate of the battle suddenly depended on just one carrier and the fearless fighter who commanded her. Could he reverse the terrible situation they found them selves in? Could the best air group in the Kid Butai pull off a miracle? Should he even try?

That the carrier battle was not all over after the one devastating SBD strike was due to one man, Rear-Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi.1 He was deified by the Japanese for that decision, but recently has been vilified by modern American historians. In judging his actions and motivations one must keep in mind the man’s beliefs and conditioning, and above all his mindset. We know that he was deeply imbued with the code of Bushido [The Way of the Warrior, a code of honour and conduct similar to European Chivalry], and that, ultimately he was to follow that dignified way to immortality. We can respect that and even honour it. But could he have saved Hiry to fight another day? Should he have done so from a strictly military sense? The arguments rage and no doubt will always do so. While it is certainly legitimate to question his judgement and expertise2, nobody ought to doubt his courage and fighting spirit. Yamaguchi might have been many things, but he was no quitter!

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