Naval District Washington will host a wreath laying and commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the historic Battle of Midway June 4 at 9 a.m. at the United States Navy Memorial in downtown Washington, D.C. The featured speaker for the event will be Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert. The event will also feature a number of the battle’s survivors who will be available for interviews.
Among the battle of Midway veterans attending will be:
- Retired Captain Ken W. Simmons of Alexandria, Virginia, served in the Navy for twenty-eight years, after receiving a commission from the Naval Academy. Captain Simmons served as a turret officer aboard USS Minneapolis during Midway. After Midway, Captain Simmons went on to command the destroyer escort USS Greenwood, the destroyer USS Stribling, and the cruiser USS Oklahoma City, the flagship of the 7th Fleet.
- Retired Lieutenant Paul Muzychenko of Sparks, Nevada, served in the Navy for fifteen years, working his way up the ranks from an enlisted position to a Lieutenant (jg). During Midway, he served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Minneapolis, which helped protect the American carriers against Japanese air attack. After leaving the Navy, Lieutenant Muzychenko retired to Sparks, Nevada.
- Retired Sonar Technician Howard Snell, a veteran of Midway and a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Chief Snell served aboard the USS ENTERPRISE (CV6) and USS MORRISON (DD560). Chief Snell also took part in the famous Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. He received the Navy Commendation Medal for saving a shipmate blown over the side of MORRISON. The ship had come to the aid of USS PRINCETON (CV23) in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, when an ammunition magazine exploded on the carrier.
The Battle of Midway commemoration event is free and open to the public.