Cryptology Key at Battle of Midway, Today

Living History:

PENSACOLA, Fla., June 6, 2008 -- More than 2,000 military staff, students from all the armed services, and guests stood in the morning sun at the Center for Information Dominance (CID) in Pensacola, Fla. June 4 to commemorate a turning point in history.

Each year the command hosts a Battle of Midway commemoration inviting World War II veterans, particularly those who served at the battle, to be honored. CID trains specialist from all the armed services in cryptology and information systems, These graduates are the modern-day version of those Sailors who in 1942 broke the Japanese code that enabled the U.S. Navy to successfully engage the enemy at the island of Midway in the Pacific.

Rear Adm. Gary Jones, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), guest speaker at the commemoration, addressed the audience filled with Sailors, Marines, soldiers, and airmen attending CID courses.

"The battle would never have happened, without the efforts of your predecessors in Navy Cryptology," said Jones. "They had already broken the Japanese IN-25 code some time before, but, early in 1942, the Japanese had introduced a new variation known as IN-25B.

"America still needs the skills that saved the nation on June 4, 1942 at the Battle of Midway," he added. "We are engaged yet again in a global struggle, in our own war this 4th of June, and we do not have the luxury of thinking that the greats have passed from this earth. Seated on this stage was the greatest generation on 4 June 1942 -I submit that standing out in front of me is the next greatest generation of 4 June 2008."

According to Jones it was the excellence of the Navy code breakers, as well as the honor, courage and commitment of all those involved in the battle that won the day for the US Navy and America.

"The battle was an important strategic victory," said Jones. "Japan's plans for the Pacific included ownership of Hawaii and the Aleutians. Those plans sank in the waters near Midway Island, thanks to good training, thanks to good luck and thanks to the excellence of your forebears in Navy cryptology, an excellence which continues to this day.

"We honor and praise all the patriots who helped our nation emerge victorious from World War II, but many of the places in which you will seek out and battle today's adversary's messaging capabilities did not exist 60 years ago, or even 20 years ago and, in fact, they do not even properly "exist" today," he continued. "Yet still our adversaries are there, and it is up to you to take the tools you learn here at the Center for Information Dominance, and defend our nation."

(From a U.S. Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs news release.)

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