L-R VADM, Fox, Maddie Stenzel, Bill Korach, ADM Howard, John Vargo
By Bill Korach www.thereportcard.org St. Augustine, FL Renaissance World Gold Village. Madison Stenzel, a Nease High School Senior from St. Johns County Florida won first prize for her essay on leadership at The Navy League’s Battle of Midway Commemorative Dinner attended by a mix of 800 officers, enlisted, veterans and ten veterans of the Battle of Midway which took place on June 7, 1942. Although this year the 70th Anniversary of D-Day eclipsed the Midway commemoration, historians agree that Midway was the most important naval battle of the 20th century, turning the tide of victory in the Pacific toward America. Maddie Stenzel plans to attend Yale this fall where she will join the Navy’s ROTC program. The Navy League and the Report Card challenged high school students all across America to write a 500 word essay about the Battle of Midway. Maddie Stenzel was presented her prize Francesca Stencil Korach Midway Essay Scholarship by the Vice Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michelle Howard, Vice Admiral Fox Deputy Commander of CENTCOM. Ms. Stenzel’s essay on leadership at the Battle of Midway is reproduced here:
“Profile in Leadership” by Madison Stenzel Imagine the shock of the Japanese naval strategists upon the news that the Battle of Midway, originally intended to eliminate the threat of the US Pacific Fleet1, had instead tipped the scales decisively in favor of US forces. Representing the turning point of the war in the Pacific, the Battle of Midway resulted in the loss of four Japanese carriers, and the accompanying loss of their crews of highly trained pilots. Furthermore, the Battle of Midway represented not only an important defense of Midway Island, a “vital sentry for Hawaii,”2 but also a response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the continuation of US efforts during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Indeed, the Battle of Midway was extraordinary in that a small force of 28 US ships overpowered ’s larger fleet of 88 ships. This feat was largely made possible by the “superb cryptologic support”3 provided to Admiral Nimitz’s fleet, which allowed the US to have three carriers waiting at Midway for the attack, in addition to strong air and ground defenses at the Midway Base.4 The foresight and preparation of the US Pacific Fleet removed the crucial element of surprise from the Japanese attack, and it is therefore imperative to recognize not only the bravery of the surface combatants at Midway, but also the skill and dedication of the cryptanalysts onshore. In my view, leadership is the ultimate form of service and self-sacrifice, as the fundamental goal of leadership is using one’s own resources, skills, and talents to serve something greater than oneself. Being a successful military leader requires an unwavering commitment to one’s country and the team that one leads, and demands a dedication to ensuring that one’s mission is accomplished. In short, leadership is not about oneself, but about others. Therefore, it is my opinion that CDR Joe Rochefort, the leader of the team that broke the Japanese code, exemplifies these leadership qualities. CDR Rochefort used his own resources and talents as a Japanese linguist and cryptanalyst5 to contribute to the overall mission of the US Pacific Fleet, and his pursuit of knowledge valuable to the Navy represents a goal of bettering himself in order to more effectively serve his country. Furthermore, his dedication to the breaking of the Japanese code is astounding. In May of 1942, CDR Rochefort analyzed and reported on 140 decrypted messages a day6, and spent an average of 20 hours a day in a windowless basement known as “The Dungeon”.7 As a result, it is clear that CDR Rochefort truly embodies the Navy core value of commitment.
As I begin my time as a midshipman in the Yale NROTC program, I aim to fully invest myself in the educational and leadership opportunities that are presented to me, so that I may utilize the experience I gain in order to serve my country in the future. By doing this, I hope to follow in the footsteps of the great leaders of the Battle of Midway.
