"WHERE HAVE YOU GONE JOE DIMAGGIO?
OUR NATION TURNS ITS LONELY EYES TO YOU"

When "Mrs. Robinson" - a song written by Paul Simon - became a hit in the 1960's, Joe Dimaggio was initially offended by the above lyrics. Jolting Joe was quick to point out to Simon and Garfunkel that he had not gone anywhere and was still in New York. They responded to Joe by saying that the lyrics were symbolic in nature and that the words reflected a desire to return to a time and a culture that existed when Dimaggio played baseball for the New York Yankees (1936-1951).

Today, that sentiment still applies. Case in point: The Midway Islands were designated a National Memorial by Congress in 1999. To date, this designation has effectively been ignored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Congress, up to this time, has been unwilling to take the USFWS to task on this issue. However, in Joe Dimaggio's time this would never be the case.

For those were the days when public outcry and Congress would never permit this sacrilege to take place. These islands, though remote, are the place where American blood and bravery led to the turning point in the war in the Pacific. But then again, those were the days when our values were different; the World War II generation remembers baseball when it was a game.

MIDWAY NATIONAL MEMORIAL UPDATE:

1. The current situation regarding Midway has not changed since the last newsletter. The historic structures continue to be subject to the forces of nature. This neglect includes the non-treatment of the termites that infest these buildings, causing their gradual destruction.
2. The Foundation has received a letter from Senator George Allen (VA) which states that although he did not sign on to S.1574 as an original co-sponsor, he would support the bill should this legislation come before him for a vote. The Senator remains hopeful that the bill will be voted out of Committee and passed by the Senate in the coming year.
3. In the meantime, the USFWS has contracted with Environmental Communications Pandion Systems to initiate a study to determine a market and feasibility analysis for a potential Midway Atoll visitors' plan for the years 2005-2009. Results will follow when the study is completed.

***OF INTEREST IS THE FACT THAT ON OCTOBER 30, 2004 THE UPI REPORTED IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES THAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO CLOSE THE MIDWAY ISLANDS AIRPORT***

USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL DONATES 2004 USS ARIZONA FLAG TO THE IMMF:

It is a great honor for the Foundation to be the caretaker of USS Arizona flag that flew over this great warship in 2004. With this sacred flag comes the memories and symbolism of all those brave men who lived and died on the battleship on that fateful day December 7, 1941.

CDR TOM F. CHEEK, USN (RET.) LEAVES US:

Since the last issue of the Midway Sentinel, another great hero of the Battle of Midway has left his family and us. Tom had the distinction of serving his country in both the Doolittle Raid and the Battle of Midway. On December 1, 1941, just six days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, CDR Cheek served as a fighter pilot on board the USS Lexington. On April 18, 1942, he flew combat air patrol aboard the USS Enterprise after the B-25 Mitchell bombers had taken off from the USS Hornet and were heading toward Tokyo. Two months later on June 4, 1942, and flying from the USS Yorktown, Tom flew cover for that carrier's torpedo bombers as they headed into action against the Japanese carrier force northeast of Midway. Deluged by Japanese Zeros, he broke off his coverage of the TBDs and warded off and attacked a number of these far superior fighter aircraft before returning back to the U.S. fleet.

Tom was a great supporter of the Midway Foundation and its causes. I will sincerely miss Tom, and will be forever grateful for what he did for this country. He has joined others above in Midway's band of brothers.

***DR. WILLIAM DUDLEY retired in October as Director of the Naval Historical Center. Bill was one of our staunchest and best allies. He will be sorely missed!!!***

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE FROM CHRIS AND ME.