Photo illustration

A military appreciation day will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Honolulu Zoo, located at 151 Kapahulu Ave.

The event will feature free entrance to the zoo for all military card ID holders, including retirees and National Guard. The free entrance is located at the Monsarrat Gate Six across from the Kapiolani Park Bandstand before 2 p.m.

Entertainment will include performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band at 9:15 a.m., the Marine Band at 10:30 a.m., Chaotic Five at 11 a.m., a hula

halau at 11:45 a.m., Island Storm at 12:15 p.m. and Odyssey at 1:15 p.m. The event also will include appearances by Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle at 10:15 a.m., the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii at 10:20 a.m. and Outrigger Enterprises at 10:25 a.m.

Bus shuttles are available for the event from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay (MCBH) and Schofield Barracks.

Bus number one leaves JBPHH at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. It leaves the zoo at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Bus number two leaves JBPHH at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. It leaves the zoo at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

Regular admission rates apply after 2 p.m.

Pickup and dropoff at JBPHH is in the NEX parking lot southeast end near the white tent. For more information on JBPHH shuttles, call Gaylene Vedder at 423-3215, for Schofield Barracks shuttles call Amanda Montgomery at 655-0002, and for MCBH call Sgt. Daniel Woodall at 257-8832.

For more information on the event, contact Elaine Ota at ota.elaine@yahoo.com or call 486-9640.

Pacific Aviation Museum will unveil its new 40-foot diorama of "The Battle of Midway" by designer Karl Lau on June 2. Photo courtesy of Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor

Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor will feature a Midway Symposium from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 2 and 3, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Midway. The battle decisively and dramatically changed the course of the war in the Pacific. The symposium is included with museum admission, free to museum members and open to the public.

Additionally, on June 2, the museum will unveil its new 40-foot diorama of “The Battle of Midway” being built in Glenview, Ill. by designer Karl Lau of On Final Approach. The 10-foot high, three-dimensional scene recreates the ocean battle between the Japanese and American fleets. Recorded interviews of Japanese and American soldiers who participated in the battle provide narration to the moving diorama, along with sounds of aircraft diving, bombs and gunfire.

Lau, 86, was a U.S. Navy pilot for the 94th Squadron from 1944 to 1946 and lost eight of his 10 crew members in the Battle of Okinawa, the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of WWII.

“I did this project because no one before had done justice to Midway. It was a turning point in the war. If this diorama does-n’t bring a tear to the eye, then we’ve lost the reason to build it,” Lau said.

Kenneth DeHoff, museum executive director, explained its importance. “This exhibit is truly a piece of art built to inspire. It will be the cornerstone of our hangar 79 Midway exhibit as we begin the fundraising campaign to restore this second battle-scarred hangar,” DeHoff said. Hangar 79 still has visible in its leaded blue windows, the bullet holes from the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. The keynote speaker at 1 p.m. June 2 is Gen. Gary L. North, commander, Pacific Air Forces, air component commander for U.S. Pacific Command, and executive director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Speakers on June 2 will include Capt. James Fanell, John Lundstrom,

Burl Burlingame, Vice Adm. Yoji Koda and Mike Jones. The moderator is Daniel Martinez.

June 3 speakers will include Stan Carpenter, Daniel Martinez, John DiVirgilio, Karl Lau and a panel of speakers. Martinez will again serve as moderator.

A Battle of Midway” new exhibit opening and reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. June 2 at hangar 79. The muse-um’s new interactive diorama will be dedicated to exhibit sponsor and donor Fred L. Turner, former chairman and CEO of McDonald’s Corporation. For the Midway symposium and exhibit opening, reservations are required by May 21, and seating is limited. For reservations and information, call 441-1007 or email SpecialEvents@PacificAviation Museum.org. Reservations are required to drive onto Ford Island, or visitors may park at the Arizona Memorial parking area and use the Ford Island shuttle.

Purchase tickets online at PacificAviationMuseum.org, at the museum or Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.

Photo by Stephanie Lau

Haley was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, brain and spinal cord cancer. After life-saving surgery and the help of donors, Haley is now at home with her family and best friend Lovey. Photo courtesy of Michelle Lele

ASBP Blood Donor Recruiter, Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii

Sending out a call for blood and blood products used to be a lot more complicated, but social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are making collecting blood much easier. In fact, when the family of young Haley used social media to share her story, her life was changed forever.

At age 5, Haley was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain and spinal cord cancer located in her posterior fossa, the part of the brain that controls balance and other complex motor functions. According to the Children’s Hospital of Boston’s website, medulloblastoma is the most common malignant central nervous system tumor for children as it accounts for 15-20 percent of pediatric brain tumors.

As networkers started reading Haley’s story that was shared online by her family, everyone wanted to help. The need to help Haley and others spread quickly through Facebook and Twitter. For two weeks straight the phone rang constantly at the Tripler Army Medical Center’s blood donor center. Concerned family members, friends and people as far away as the state of Texas called wanting to help. Several requested their donation from another state be sent to Tripler Army Medical Center for Haley.

After life-saving surgery, Haley is now at home and on her way to recovery. “Haley couldn’t have had surgery without the donors. It is not until you see that anonymous gift of a person’s blood going into the body of your own child do you understand the power of that gift. Our daughter has the blood of many, giving her the chance to recover and live,” said Wendy Cockshell, Haley’s mom.

Haley’s family and friends continue to use Facebook and Twitter to say thank you to the doctors and staff at Tripler Army Medical Center who took such good care of little Haley. They also express their gratitude toward people who take the time to donate blood and platelets and give periodic updates on Haley’s condition.

Meeting Haley for the first time, you would never know she had any illness. She is full of life, laughter and very curious about her surroundings.

To find out more about the Armed Services Blood Program or to schedule an appointment, visit online: www.militaryblood.dod.mil. To interact directly with some of the staff, see more photos or to get the latest news, visit : www.facebook.com/militaryblood, www.flickr.com/militaryblood and www.twitter.com/militaryblood.

The Pearl City Units Junior Enlisted Association delivered stuffed animals that had been collected for the Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii's 15th Annual Teddy Bear Round-up. Photo courtesy of Pearl City Units Junior Enlisted Association

Pearl City Units Junior Enlisted Association, consisting of the SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE (SDVT-1) and Naval Special Warfare Group Three Logistics and Support Unit (LOGSU3) Junior Enlisted Association (JEO), recently participated in a road side clean-up and delivered stuffed animals that had been collected for the Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii’s 15th Annual Teddy Bear Round-up.

Yeoman Seaman S. Herrera and Machine Repairman 2nd Class K. Sturdivant delivered two large garbage bags full of

stuffed animals.

In support of National Child Abuse Awareness Month and month of the military child, the JEO collected new or gently used teddy bears and stuffed animals.

The donations were made at the annual Teddy Bear Round-up and Family Resource Fair. The collection ended with boxes around various office spaces on the compound.

Like last year’s effort, this year’s teddy bear round-up took place at Pearlridge Shopping Center. Many volunteers stood by to receive, and the community brought their teddy bears and stuffed animals to donate. The teddy bears and stuffed animals collected will be donated to the domestic abuse shelters and children’s hospitals around Hawaii, according to a representative from Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii.

Besides the collection of stuffed animals, Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii also coordinated a resource fair for families to spread awareness of child abuse prevention.

Did you know:

*A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds .

* More than five children die every day as a result of child abuse.

* Approximately 80 percent of children that die from abuse are under the age of 4.

* For more info contact visit the website http://preventchildabusehawaii.org/.

Chief Cryptologic Technician (Networks) Joey Legnon of the Kunia Kavemen beats out a close play at second as 613th Air and Space Operation Center (613 AOC) second baseman Tech. Sgt. C.J. Hodge receives the throw.

Sports Editor

Moments after the 647th Logistics Readiness Squadron (647 LRS) handed the 735th Air Mobility Squadron (735 AMS) their first loss of the season, the Kunia Kavemen racked up three big innings May 8 to get by the 613th Air and Space Operation Center (613 AOC), 18-14. They toppled the final undefeated Gold Division team in an intramural softball matchup at Millican Field, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

With the win, the Kavemen, who won the final Navy intramural softball championship in 2010, have placed themselves right back in the hunt for the pennant with a record of 5-2, while the 613 AOC now stands at 4-1.

“This was a huge win for us,” said Kunia center fielder Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Jake Turner. “We won our first three games in a row and then, I think, we got over-confident and lost two in a row. I think, right now, we’re catching our stride as a team.”

Turner’s clutch hitting was a big part of the Kavemen’s win over the 613.

Batting cleanup, Turner helped Kunia’s cause by whacking a single to drive in a run in the first inning, a two-out, two-run base hit in the second, and another single, with the bases loaded, to drive in two more runs in an eight-run eruption in the top of the fifth.

“I had a few situations, where there was two outs, and I knew there was an RBI opportunity,” he said. “I didn’t want to overdo it. I wanted to stay on top of the ball and just drive the ball and drive in the runs. I felt great about it. They were big hits, and our team really needed it at that time.”

Against the 613, Kunia broke out their batting shirts early as the team rallied for five runs on five hits in the top of the first, and four runs on five hits in the second.

Besides three RBIs from Turner in the first two innings, teammates Lt. Cmdr. Troy Smith stoked a double for two runs in the first, and Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) (SW) Steve Pitzen hit a two-out triple to drive in Turner in the second.

“We knew we had a tough opponent and we had a couple games where we didn’t score runs early,” Turner said. “Knowing that we had that cushion put us in the position where we could play defense and hopefully tack on some additional runs just to maintain that lead.”

Although Kunia bats fell silent in the third and fourth innings, the team seemed to reenergize itself after Pitzen, leading off the fifth inning, beat out a close play at first by diving head first onto the bag.

The Kavemen followed Pitzen’s hustling play by rap-ping out two more singles to load the bases, before Smith smashed a shot down the third base line to drive in two runs.

Kunia batted around the order in the top of the fifth and seemed to put the game away with eight more runs to gain a 17-3 advantage.

However, the 613 put in a dent in the lead with four runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 17-7.

Then after Kunia posted their final run in the top of the sixth, Kavemen pitcher Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) Bill Kronenberg got Maj. JB Wills on a ground out, but had trouble finding the strike zone after that.

Kronenberg walked the next four batters to give up a run and was relieved by Smith, who proceeded to walk the next two batters for two more runs.

Kronenberg returned to the mound and immediately walked in another run before getting two of the next four 613′s batters out to end the threat.

“I was pretty worried at one point,” Turner admitted. “I was confident that we would make a play if the ball came our way, but when you’re out there and you can’t do anything about it, you can’t help but be frustrated. I’m glad that we were able to close it out in the end.”

Tech. Sgt. C.J. Hodge, second baseman for the 613, said that while the team fought back, its inability to come up with the clutch hits in the early innings came back to haunt the AOC.

“What our problem was we couldn’t string our hits together,” Hodge said. “One hit, two hits and then we fall flat. We probably could have been more patient, but it was early and we were trying to come back.”

While the 613 missed out on a golden opportunity to seize sole procession of first place, Hodge said it’s just one loss and the team will bounce back.

“It’s not too disappointing,” he said. “Everybody is going to fall flat every now and then, it happens. It’s not a big deal. We’ll recover, be back next week and play like just like we’ve always been playing.”

Staff Sgt. Eugene Winchester, an outfielder for the Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG), keeps his eyes on the ball before blasting a ground rule double in the team’s game against the Divers.

Sports Editor

The Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) broke out to a 13-2 lead after three innings May 7, then held their breath to earn a tough 17-13 win over the Divers in an intramural softball White Division game at Hickam Softball Complex, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

With the win, the HIANG made it six wins in a row after dropping their season opener, while the Divers from Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard had their record slip to 4-3.

In the showdown between two of the top five teams in the division, it was the Divers that broke out on top first with a run in the opening frame.

However in the bottom of the first, the HIANG answered the call quickly and loudly with a six-run explosion.

Staff Sgt. Mike Victorino delivered the first big blow by slicing a single for two runs after Staff Sgt. Jon Fukumoto walked to load the bases with no outs.

Staff Sgt. John Arakaki added another clutch single to make it 3-1, and then, with two runners on base, Staff Sgt. Eugene Winchester sent them all home by crushing the first pitch over the center-field fence for a three-run jack.

“Good pitch, good swing, I was just thankful that it went over,” said Winchester, whose blast was just the start of things to come. “Right off of the bat, I knew. It’s when you don’t feel it, you know it’s gone.”

After HIANG pitcher Chief Master Sgt. Vince Ramos posted a zero in the top of the second, the bats of his teammates were at it again in the bottom of the inning.

This time, the damage came after two outs, with a man on second, before the HIANG batters went to work.

Following a fly out to right field by second baseman Tech. Sgt. Charlie McKintosh for the second out, the HIANG scored five times on three hits and two errors.

Again, the big hit was delivered by Winchester, who slugged a double to drive in two runs.

Although Ramos managed to hold the Divers to a single run in the top of the third, things started to pick up in the next frame when the bats of the Divers started to come alive.

Leading off the top of the fourth, Navy Diver 3rd Class Shaun Egly dug into an offering from Ramos and crushed it over the fence for a home run.

The shot seemed to revive the Divers’ attack, as the team picked up four singles en route to two more runs in the inning.

While the HIANG came back to score four runs, which included another RBI double by Winchester, the Divers were just starting to heat up.

The team outscored the HIANG, 8-0, over the final two frames, but the Divers’ total came up a little short and too late.

“We don’t practice, so it takes us a little bit to get going,” explained Egly about the team’s late start. “After a couple of at-bats, we finally get the sticks rolling. We just need to come out and start sooner. We’re all here to have fun, but if we came out a little more serious and wanted to win a little more, it might be better for us.”

Winchester said that although the Divers did a great job of turning a rout into a game, he felt confident that the HIANG would prevail.

“I was kind of worried, but we knew that we had the last at-bat,” he said. “Just do the best we can because anything can happen in softball.”

After their surprise in the season opener, the HIANG is back in command and has resumed their usual role of pennant contender.

With the way the team hits the ball, Winchester said that the championship is on its radar, but more importantly, everyone on the HIANG is just out to enjoy the ride.

“Everybody looks for that championship game, but it’s not something that we’re going to put all of our time and effort into,” he noted. “That (championship) is definitely our goal, but whatever happens, happens. We come out here to enjoy ourselves and spend time with each other. That’s what it’s all about.”

With a Girl Scout handshake and a lei, Stephanie Desroches of Junior Troop 32 is welcomed to the Cadette level by Ginny Obert, service unit manager.

More than 100 Girl Scouts from troops based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Aliamanu Military Reservation and Fort Shafter loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster on May 5, to “bridge” to the next level of Girl Scouting.

The girls’ walk through the aircraft and out to their waiting families symbolized not just their journey in completing a Girl Scout requirement, but also symbolized their part in the next century of Girl Scouting. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts.

This bridging ceremony is also

significant because the troops’ have the support of the flight crew at hangar 19, which donated use of the plane and volunteers to help with the ceremony. Personnel from the 15th Maintenance Group arranged for the aircraft and hangar, and volunteered to assist with the ceremony.

“It was wonderful! Thank you for providing a unique memory for our girls,” said Kimberly Kanetzky, mom of newly bridged Junior Girl Scout, Emma Kanetzky of Troop 188.

Every girl participating is the daughter of a military member, Air Force, Navy or Army, and has found Girl Scouting as a touchstone for support as they move from duty station to duty station.

During their time in Hawaii, most of these girls have completed numerous community service projects. Together, the Girl Scouts of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Aliamanu Military Reservation and Fort Shafter have amassed hundreds of hours of community service.

“Our goal was for the program to be girl-run. The adults didn’t touch the microphone before, during or after the ceremony. The girls did a great job!” added Ginny Obert, service unit manager, Hickam-Pearl Harbor-Ohana Girl Scout Service Unit.

“The girl-led program was fantastic, and the girls enjoyed being honored in a special way,” added Sharon Work, leader of Daisy Troop 50.

Senior Airman Akira Hose, striker for the defending base intramural soccer champions Kunia Gallos, heads in a shot past a USS Columbia (SSN 771) defender for a goal during a Blue Division game at Earhart Field.

Sports Editor

Senior Airman Akira Hose booted in two goals in the first half and added another in the second half May 5 to lead the defending base intramural champions Kunia Gallos to a 5-0 shutout over USS Columbia (SSN 771) in a matchup of Blue Division teams at Earhart Field, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The win improved Kunia’s division-leading record to 8-1, as Columbia dropped their third game against three wins and one tie.

In recording the rare hat trick, Hose used his quickness to beat the defense on a long pass on his first score and knocked in a header for his second tally, before taking it in himself early in the second half for his third and final goal.

Later in the second half, Hose assisted on the team’s fourth goal of the game when he kicked the ball to team-mate Staff Sgt. Matt Frengs, who popped in a head shot past the Columbia goalkeeper and into the net.

“I was basically just trying to bait the defense into trying to set the offside trap,” said Hose about his first goal of the day. “Once they (defense) made their move, I signaled my guy to send the ball to catch them off-balance and I just ran behind the defense and was able to get it behind the keeper.”

While the first goal highlighted the foot speed of Hose, his second goal zeroed in on the Gallos’ precision passing and team-work.

On the attack, Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 3rd Zach Camburn appeared to be trapped out on the right corner next to the Columbia goal.

With one signal from Hose, who was positioned in the box at the goal, Camburn kicked a perfect pass to Hose, which resulted in a header for the team’s second score.

“I was definitely trying to signal him because the ball was getting hung up a lot in the wind,” Hose said. “So he just had to send it deeper, past the defense, and hopefully I could leap over and head

it into the goal. It was a beautiful ball.”

The two goals gave Kunia a 2-0 lead at halftime even though Hose and Gallos team caption Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) 1st Class Steven Bloom both admitted that the team wasn’t playing at its best.

“I think we had some people out of position,” Hose noted. “We kind of made adjustments as the game went on, and people were able to click a lot better.”

Bloom said that while the Gallos are the defending champs, the team has been known to take some time before it warms up – a situation that, he said, will need to be corrected before the playoffs.

“Maybe sometimes we come here relaxed and lack-adaisical, and it takes awhile to get it together,” he said. “We have our moments, but we have to work hard to get more moments, so it turns into a half and then a full game. We have to start playing better games.”

As if on cue, the Gallos came out of the break on fire as Hose continued his hot day by knocking in his third goal of the game on the team’s seconds hot on goal in the second half.

Moments later, Hose delivered a crisp shot toward the goal for Frengs, who took the pass and headed a clean shot to the back of the net.

Up 4-0, with its defense holding the Columbia to zero shots on goal in the second half, Camburn added the final goal to complete the win for Kunia.

Although the team completed its championship season last year without a loss, Hose, who was a member of the squad, said that he believes that this edition of the Gallos might be even better.

Armed with other key returnees, such as Bloom and Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) 3rd Class Winston Jackson, Hose said that the Gallos are ready to repeat.

“Oh, I think we’re much better,” he shared. “The fact that we’ve had another year to play with each other, relatively the same core, and new additions that give us a lot more speed, we’re much more athletic this year.”

Bloom, who has been a member of the Gallos for the past seven years, agreed with Hose and said that, while he is cautious, he is looking to go out a winner.

“This is the last year that I’ll play and Jackson’s done, so this is it for the Gallos and we’re going to try and make this a special season,” Bloom said. “We have the offensive power and we have a great midfield, so the talent is there to win it again.

What we have to do is concentrate, have fun, and come out and perform. If we just live up to half of our potential, I think we’ll win.

I think we have by far the best team, best players, but if we don’t perform, we’re going to lose.”

USS Lexington, seen from USS Yorktown, during Battle of Coral Sea. U.S. Navy photo

Navy Region Hawaii Historian

In the earliest days of the Pacific War, the United States stood nearly alone in the struggle against the forces of Imperial Japan. Though the attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor had been a success, it had not been the overwhelming knockout blow that the Japanese navy had hoped for a American forces, though drastically limited, still managed to roam the peripheral of the Japanese Empire, conducting hit and run operations against island outposts and defensive facilities.

Adm. Ernest King, the commander-in-chief of the United States Fleet, intended to show the enemy that the United States had no intention of lying down or waiting until her forces could be sufficiently built up for a large scale offensive. Instead, he ordered the remaining Pacific Fleet carriers to strike the Japanese on the perimeter of their vast oceanic empire and force them to spread their forces thin in defense.

From the Japanese standpoint, the first five months of the war had gone very well, exceeding expectations, but America’s response to Japan’s actions were troubling. The carrier raids, particularly the wildly unorthodox Doolittle Raid of April 27, 1942, showed all too clearly that though America’s forces were crippled, her resolve was firm, and the emperor would never be secure while American carriers were able to move in and out of Japanese controlled waters undetected. A decisive battle would have to be fought, sooner rather than later, and the American carriers would have to be destroyed. That battle would be fought in June near Midway Atoll and would not go Japan’s way.

The Battle of Midway has often been referred to as the turning point of the Pacific War. Indeed if it was not the turning point, it was one of several possibilities and its significance cannot be denied, but largely unheralded is the significance of the events that took place in the month before that seminal battle.

The actions of May 4 through 8, 1942, in the waters off eastern Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, set up the American Navy for success at Midway in ways that are often overlooked. Australia was of vital importance to the Allied effort in the Pacific. From that southern Pacific continent, one of the few land masses in the southeast Pacific as yet unoccupied by Japanese troops, the Americans were already building up the Army ground and air forces that would launch a great counter offensive and roll up the Japanese empire.

As a result, Japanese military planners began formulating an operation that would allow Japanese forces to dominate the South Pacific by capturing first, Port Moresby in southern New Guinea, and then later occupying New Caledonia and Fiji. This would not only threaten Australia, but would essentially cut off America’s supply lines to Australia and greatly hinder any counter offensive from that quarter.

A report produced by the Pacific Fleet staff in April 1942 indicated that though the Americans were at a decided material disadvantage in carrier and shore-based air strength, the one advantage that they could claim was in the area of intelligence. Accurate knowledge of the enemy’s deployment of forces and direction of advance could provide an opportunity to deploy remaining American forces in hopes of stopping the Japanese juggernaut.

Intelligence gathered from Station Hypo at Pearl Harbor anticipated the Japanese intentions for Port Moresby and on April 19, 1942, the USS Lexington (CV-2) and her screening ships were ordered to proceed to a point 300 nm northwest of New Caledonia, where they would rendezvous May 1 with the USS Yorktown (CV-5) and the ships of Task Force 17. From there, it was hoped that with the advantage of surprise, skill and a little luck, they could head off the Port Moresby invasion and safeguard the vital supply lines to the region.

The contest was marked by confusion as the two fleets sparred between May 4 and May 6, with aircraft from the USS Yorktown attacking Japanese forces launching an invasion of Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. Later, the Port Moresby invasion force was spotted, and bombers from the Lexington scored direct hits on the Japanese escort carrier Shoho, sending her to the bottom with the now famous epitaph, “scratch one flattop!”

The loss of Shoho and her attached air cover led the Japanese commander of the invasion forces to the fateful decision to retreat until a later date. That date would never come, leaving Port Moresby under Allied control. On the morning of May 7, the two opposing fleets launched air attacks against each other, marking the first carrier-to-carrier engagement in history. The day ended with the loss of the Lexington and the Yorktown badly damaged. Japan was also scarred with the crippling of the fleet carrier Shokaku.

Typically, history counts the Battle of the Coral Sea as a tactical victory for Japan, considering the loss of the “Lady Lex,” one of America’s only remaining aircraft carriers, but a strategic victory for the United States. The aggressive posture of Admirals King and Nimitz set out to prevent the Japanese from expanding their ocean empire to the South Pacific and, with the cancelation of the Port Moresby invasion, their strategy proved successful, but the victory carried with it even greater import.

Japan’s next great battle, the attempted invasion of Midway just one month later would be without the services of two of their frontline carriers and aircraft of the Shokaku and the Zuikaku, essentially bringing the odds of that clash to a more even keel. Though damaged and in need of major repair, the USS Yorktown and her air groups underwent a legendary rehabilitation at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and contributed mightily to America’s great victory at Midway.