Cryptology: The Battle of Midway

The Battle of Midway was the turning point in the Pacific War.  Due to the triumphant narrative embraced by the United States after WWII, there is a tendency to think of the battle as a straight forward series of events that led to the triumph of US forces.  It is true that superb cryptologic work and effective performance in the battle space served as the foundation of the victory, but there is so much more to the story. In the rush to celebrate the events of that day, it is easy to forget that much of what happened was due to the decisions and actions of ordinary human beings at critical moments, who met and overcame immense challenges in extraordinary ways. This lecture will focus on some of the amazing events and personalities that were part of the incredible victory and provide insights into why at the Battle of Midway, as Admiral Nimitz noted, uncommon valor was a common virtue.