JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — Gerry Little, Ocean County New Jersey Freeholder, addressed more than 100 attendees that included active duty Navy, Marine, Air Force and Army personnel, civilian Navy employees, WWII and other veterans, as well as community dignitaries in Lakehurst’s historic Hangar One on Tuesday, June 4, to mark the 71^st anniversary of the Battle of Midway.

Considered the combat turning point in the Pacific theater during World War II, the Battle of Midway took place June 4-7, 1942. A vastly outnumbered U.S. Navy soundly defeated the Japanese Navy, resulting in the sinking of four carriers, one heavy cruiser and 291 aircraft. The losses greatly diminished Japan’s ability to project it’s naval and air power and enabled America to remain on the initiative for the remainder of the war.

In his remarks, Little, a Marine veteran, whose father was a WWII pilot and whose son is preparing to graduate from the Navy’s Officer Candidate School, remarked how honored he was to be in historic Hangar One, the hub of early naval aviation and to represent Ocean County, a county with more than 60,000 veterans.

“The men who went to sea in June of 1942 helped to directly change the course of history in WWII,” Little said. “They were the pioneers of the greatest Navy to ever sail the oceans of the world.”

“The Navy, Marine and Army pilots who flew the missions, the sailors on the ships, the code breakers who intercepted the Japanese message traffic and the civilian dock workers who repaired the USS Yorktown in record time to enable her to participate in the battle, all contributed immeasurably in enabling America to overcome tremendous odds and defeat the powerful Japanese Navy at Midway,” added Little.

“And like our brave veterans of WWII, the men and women who wear the uniforms of the United States military today remain the most skilled, trained and dedicated of any military on the face of the earth,” said Little.

In his remarks, Little remembered the recent passing on June 3 of New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg, who at 89 was the last WWII veteran actively serving in the senate, and he acknowledged the presence at the ceremony of Seaman William Askew from Brick, N.J., a surviving veteran of the Battle of Midway.

Following his comments, Little, along with Air Force Brig. Gen. Martha Meeker and Navy Capt. William Bulis presented a plaque from Ocean County to Carl Jablonski, president of the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society for their organization of the ceremony and their continued support of the Navy community at Lakehurst.

At the conclusion of the commemoration ceremony, Taps was played and a wreath was dedicated to the memory of all those who served and those who died during this historic naval battle.