Comments on: Improbable: Ensign George Gay at Midway

By: James Creeden

James Creeden — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:37:36 +0000

You sure have that right.

By: P. CPS_Xabre Marcus

P. CPS_Xabre Marcus — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:52:19 +0000

Mr. Gay…Is in my opinion a hero of the most High. To help take out 3 Jap Carriers get shot down, and flounder in Shark invested Waters, possibly having pot shots fired at him, getting water logged, becoming dehydrated by the minute, sun burned to where his skin was blistering…He is now with his Comrades in a higher place.
This are the things that legends are made of.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:05:04 +0000

I am a little late to the game as article and comments appear to be almost 2 years old, but I wanted to thank the writer and the people who have commented for providing some understanding about Midway and how to win a war. As a recent WWII history buff, I cannot get enough of this stuff. Ensign Gay and all others who served are truly great American heroes. I wish I could thank them all.

By: Bart Soto

Bart Soto — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:39:58 +0000

I had the wonderful opportunity to personally meet George Gay. He lived here in metro Atlanta, GA. George was in a well equiped Hobby Shop and was sitting at a table selling and signing his book, "Sole Survivor" and an models of the Devastator torpedo plane A large original painting of a Devastator Torpedo plane flying right over the deck of a Japanese Carrier from end to end, was behind him. George signed my book then I asked him about the painting. He explained, after he dropped his torpedo, he was so close to the carrier, he flew right over the deck from bow to stern to avoid the flak guns, since the guns could not traverse on him. During those seconds Japanese sailors dived for cover with one officer waving his sword at him. For a split second he thought of crashing into that crowded deck, but he continued on and was immediately shot down after clearing the carrier and ditched in the ocean. I personally thanked him for his courage and service to our country and shook his hand. George Gay was a humble warrior. I wonder if I could do what he did and press the attack while watching all your friends get shot down and die around you. Read his book, "Sole Survivor".

By: Brian R. Price

Brian R. Price — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:55:40 +0000

Bill,

I heartily agree with the idea that major events add or subtract available options from a combatant's "menu" of available choices.

Additionally, the way the combatant perceives the menu can hide or add choices; what seems impossible or highly improbable to one commander may seem, according to the way he measures the situation, probable or advantageous. Adding the layer of perception upon the "objective" choices reveals something of the Art of war, where human creativity blends with the science of war.

By: Reginald Cox

Reginald Cox — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:43:09 +0000

I loved it. Wish I had done this long ago. I wish I could sms to friends phone to share they also may want to sign up. Waiting for the next article.

By: Bill Nance

Bill Nance — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:49:56 +0000

Yes, and the fact that the Japanese fleet lost the option to conduct major carrier offensive operations in the central pacific for a period of time, thereby making Nimitz' job easier.

By: Luke Truxal

Luke Truxal — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:45:04 +0000

So Midway is an important victory for the USN, but what makes it a more decisive battle is the fact that Nimitz took the initiative after Midway. Midway may have not been the end for the Japanese, but Nimitz didn't give them a window in which to recover.

By: Bill Nance

Bill Nance — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:24:47 +0000

I think you're on to something there. Decision points (or decisive points – semantics in many cases) add or remove options from one or both sides. Many people look at history with hindsight and mark X as the spot where the war turned. That may be the case (or may not be), but it was the decisions and actions AFTER that moment in time that truly sealed the deal.

For example, Stalingrad took an entire field army off the OOB for the German Army. This definitely limited German options and more than likely blocked a chance for a German victory (as they envisioned it) on the East Front. However, it was the German decisions on the East Front afterwards which drained the rest of German reserves in men and material, making Stalingrad even more problematic.

By: Luke Truxal

Luke Truxal — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:05:54 +0000

So as historians should we call these critical points in history decision points? Battles such as this do force a shift in strategy and the question then becomes what is the right strategy. As historians do we become too concerned with the events that unfolded that sometimes we forget the decision making process that occurs before and after these events take place?