The most remote place in America: Midway Atoll
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- čas přidán 8. 12. 2019
- Midway atoll is a ring of small volcanic islands 1,300 miles West of Hawaii. It has served over it's lifetime as a whaling camp, luxury hotel, and military base.
Corrections:
1. The plane at 2:07 is a Boeing, not a Martin M-130 as stated. The China Clipper planes were Martin M-130s.
2. ˌärkəˈpeləˌɡō and atˌôl pronunciation
3. People have mentioned the aircraft carrier was anachronistic.
Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental:
www.starrenvironmental.com/
Photos attributed to Forest & Kim Starr used under CC 3.0 Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/....
Official FWS Site: www.fws.gov/refuge/Midway_Ato...
Additional Sources / Further Reading:
www.ainonline.com/aviation-ne...
www.latimes.com/archives/la-x...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henders...)
www.travelweekly.com/Destinat...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midway_...
atlantic-cable.com/CableCos/C...
www.huffpost.com/entry/smiths...
I visited Midway in 1968 as a member of the US Air Force. It was the height of its occupancy. The water in tye lagoons were crystal clear, the beaches beautiful sand. Those 90 days I was there are stll so clear, even 50+ years gone.
👏👏👏
Stopped there to refuel our ship while on WESPAC in the Navy in 1975 while enroute to Yokosuka, Japan. I've never seen water so clear !
@@280StJohnsPl I used to wait out at the end of the runway for incoming airplanes. As they came down, the bottoms of the planes would look green, from light reflected from the shallow water. In a moment, they would turn gray, and they'd be over the num bers. Cumulus clouds were like that - green on the bottom until they crossed over land.
@@howardmiller5381 Wow !
I envy you. I would love to see it.
My family lived on Midway for a year when my dad was stationed there in the Navy in 1955/56. I still remember Christmas there and the 4th of July. The Navy would bring in Christmas trees but due to space on the ships or planes none of the trees were over 3 feet. For the 4th the Marines stationed there would put on a show using tracers in their machine guns and firing illumination rounds from their mortars. I even learned to swim there when I was 5/6 years old.
It's not the most remote US Territory, that would be American Samoa and Guam, American Samoa is on route to Australia and New Zealand both key allies against China.
Those must be some really cool memories 🇺🇸🤙
Midway? It better be midway to a Walmart, or I ain't going!! No sir
@@applejack2911 They didn't call it the battle of Midway for nothing! 😀
Great memories
I was stationed there in 1984. I would live there forever if I could.
that place is going to be dissolved eventually, here's an even better invitation for your eternity: _"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."_ ~ *Jesus*
Matt 11:28-30
Not if I get there first....
How is it there?
@@angelquintana5173 Simply Paradise
There is an Atoll in the South Pacific that sometimes has jobs open for federal police officers.....I was a federal police officer at the time...free housing etc.....I need women in my life....no matter the beauty there on the atoll having a jar of cold cream/porn hub as my companion at night would not be worth it...
I lived here for 2 years when my parents worked for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife service 2014-2016
Edit: I have to answer questions it's been a year sorry y'all.
1. I can't say who my parents are.
2. I never went fishing.
3. We don't have a Walmart, shipments come in via plane and goes either to the general store or to people homes.
4. I don't remember anyone named Purvis.
5. We had satellite internet. Wasn't fast. We didn't have any access to TV or Cable, but you could access it through paid subscriptions online.
6. It is very covered in plastic. I remember at school we went to the beach to help clean up, but the next day it was littered again. There are a few beaches that aren't bad though.
7. For fun we had a bar and gift shop but I just spent a lot of time playing outside with other kids, I mean I was 8-10 years old and there wasn't a chuck e cheese.
Who were your parents?
There is an Atoll in the South Pacific that sometimes has jobs open for federal police officers.....I was a federal police officer at the time...free housing etc.....I need women in my life....no matter the beauty there on the atoll having a jar of cold cream/porn hub as my companion at night would not be worth it...
How was the fishing?
Do they have a Walmart? How do you get food and other stuff on this Island ?
I know a guy who went to school there as his Dad was stationed @ Midway. He went on to be a Corrections Officer after that. His name is Purvis.
Midway was basically an unsinkable aircraft carrier for the US and a thorn in the side of the IJN. This pile of volcanic rock became THE most important strategic island in the world and is now fittingly quiet.
Uh so everybody knows, desert atolls dont have volcanos, they are a sand dunes. I lived on a couple (Wake and Canton) and when we landed on Midway it looked more populated then either of those.
@@patclark2186 Umm, I thought islands were created by volcanic activity. At least what I learned in geology.
@@tomservo5347 Yes you are right. I'm sorry If I did not convey my thoughts well. These islands are the tops of ancient undersea volcanos that corals have built up over the eons to just above the ocean surface. What I'm trying to say is that while Hawaii is a n active volcano island chain with its own springs and lush tropical jungles and mountains., Midway is a sand dune without water, maybe the highest point 6 feet above sea level..
@@patclark2186 I'm sorry that I misunderstood you. I get what you're saying. The Navy and Marine personnel stationed on Midway described the island just like you did comparing it to being on a tiny desert literally in the middle of nowhere.
@@tomservo5347 can you guys stop just apologizing to each other, it's sickening 🤮
After reading a good many of the comments, I just had to pitch in with my experience. As a navy shipman during the early Vietnam years, 58-61, when it wasn't overly known that the US was involved that early on, We used to visit Midway about every 2-3 weeks to load ammo. I haven't seen any comment on the fact that Midway was a military ammo dump. However, my ship, the U.S.S. Mansfeild DD 728, was assigned as a patrol ship in the straits just off of Vietnam, and we were always in position
to give backup firepower to the troops on the battlefield in Vietnam. As I recall there was nothing else on the atoll but gooney birds . Goofey ass gooney birds. In order to smoke a cig we had to go as far from the ammo storage as possible to lite up.
Which was exactly where the majority of the gooney birds congregated. Enjoyed messing with the birds but had to be wary of the long beak and the sharp tip at the end. Not too friendly a bird. I'm 82 years of age and if anyone is out there that can recall these memories, post a reply.
Sounds like people had to pretty much make their own amusement out there. I bet the stars were spectacular at night, there being not very much light pollution...
Thank you so very much for your Service and your share, sir
🇺🇸
Thank you for your service!
Thank you for your service Charles!
I was on French Frigate Shoals from 1966-67. Very similar atoll to Midway but much smaller and halfway between Midway and Honolulu. Found Gooney birds to somewhat approachable as they did not seem to fear humans. I found that if I held a stick in front of them, I could stroke their backs while it was busy attacking the stick with its beak.
I was stationed there for the year of 1964 as the Pharmacist Mate at the hospital. The memories I still have are of good times. Someone mentioned the bowling alley and used it a lot. During my time, I volunteered for two week temporary duty out on Kure Island, which is even more remote than Midway. It was a Coast Guard Loran station, and that was even better duty. For me, daily attire was T shirt, shorts and flip flops. Back to Midway. The big event in 1964 was a tsunami warning when the Alaska earthquake hit. All personnel assembled in Officer Country, all of 10 feet above sea level. The Gooney birds were great entertainment, mostly when they returned after 7 years at sea. They would put there legs out like they were landing on water and when they touched down they bowled over and rolled for several feet. They'd get up and shake themselves off, look around like "what just happened."
Just good memories of Midway.
I visited Midway in 1998. Old barracks was converted to a "hotel" run by a concession granted by US Dept of Interior. Two flights per week from Honolulu in those days. There was a French chef for dinners... Incredible fresh fish menus. Other meals were shared in mess hall with workers and volunteers. Workers were largely Sri Lankan and Philippine nationals hired by Fish & Wildlife Svc to reclaim native habitats. Volunteers included Cousteau Society members. Tourists included deep-sea fishing enthusiasts, scuba enthusiasts, bird-watching enthusiasts, and WWII buffs. We were honeymooning. We hiked, played tennis, golf, snorkeled with crazy varieties of fish in approx 8-ft depth for miles inside atoll at east end of Sand Is., swam with dolphins, and enjoyed 1000-yd private white-sand beach for four days. Laysan albatross, white "fairy" terns, frigate birds (white- and red-tailed), petrels aplenty. Incredible trip & amazing history.
When the island was open for visitors, it was not operated by the USFWS. It was operated by Midway Phoenix Corp. via a Cooperative Agreement. MPC built the Clipphouse Resturaunt and Captain Brooks bar', at their own expense. In addition, MPC remodeled BOQ-C to hotel room standards, all at their own expense. MPC installed the island's first cellular phone system and brought Internet to the island. MPC invested nearly $20 million of their own money for making improvements to the island. MPC employed Americans, workers from Thailand, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Midway is key to trans-pacific air travel. It’s a diversion airport for ETOPS flights and due to this there are a few people stationed there to keep the airfield in working order and be ready in case a commercial flight has to divert there. It happens more often than you’d think.
I would like to live in one of those concrete shack buildings and have a couple huge shortwave lpda antennas on tall towers there. Be real nice. I always enjoyed shortwaving in the middle of nowhere.
Simon Winchester goes into great detail about the diversion airport etc in his book entitled “Pacific”
Midway is still used as a refueling stop for aircraft with limited range that need to fly to Hawaii or further south to New Zealand or Australia. These planes fly via Alaska.
I lived on midway in 1992 to1993.and i ve learned many wonderful things.very nice place to visit in this world.
In a very long career in the airlines , mostly long haul in the last 20 years of it I have used Midway as an ETOP alt very often . Once coming out of Shanghai to Vancouver we were using both Midway and Fairbanks Alaska to make it work . Interesting flight planning .
This video has some of the most interesting comments I've seen on CZcams. The recollections from the people who visited or were stationed on Midway Island are wonderful to read. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their memories.
Man, do I have stories! A great place to be a teenager fresh from leaving "home"
I was on Midway Atoll in 1969 when a passenger on our Boeing 707 flight to Japan had a heart attack, and Midway was the only place in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean that had a teeny military medical facility with a doctor. The runway was barely long enough to accommodate a Boeing 707 and we had to prepare for crashlanding with our heads in pillows on our laps.
Bit of an exaggeration. That was just standard procedure, those can things can take off and land well short of the what the spec sheet says with a pilot that knows what they're doing. Been done many times before.
Over one person?
@@negritotenfold A heart attack is always treated as seriously as it is on aircraft, even if you're in coach or over the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
@@m.entera3196but why risk the entire plane for ONE person is what he's saying
@@anthonyflores4142Each life is precious.
The whole plastic thing really passes me off and I'm not even a greenie. Litter is just something I've never understood.
I went camping in wilderness and came across other camp areas where people crapped in there area, lolololool
The Pacific is where the Asian countries dump their garbage.
@@omikredarhcs8221
Why the ‘lololol’? Do you find this funny?
@Randy Bombardier.......this IS NOT litter. This is pollution. And you don’t have to be a ‘greenie’ to be pissed off about it. It affects every single person on the planet!
There’s nothing shameful in being green to begin with. It means you care about something greater than yourself.
I lived there from 1970-1974. I was a kid at the time. Great place for kids!
I imagine so. Kind of like being in small town.
Safest place in the world to run around and explore as long as you don't go in the water, and near impossible to get lost on.
I lived there 74-76. 5th -7th grade at George Cannon School.
Was your dad an army man?
@@scotworthy That must have been a cool experience.
I also lived on Midway as a child in 1970-1972. I remember Rusty Bucket where all the old wreckage was gathered on the island. I also went to George Gannon School for 4th and 5th grade. My dad was a Chief air control man. I loved going beachcombing with my dad looking for fish balls. I remember playing softball there as well. We use to go to the NCO club and watch movies at night. Wish I could go back and visit again.
1972-75, my Dad was stationed on NAS Midway Island. He was a Chief Disbursing Klerk, payroll accts. Rusty Bucket, George Cannon School, Hartley Field (Little League Baseball)… Troop 20 Boy Scouts. We used to camp on Eastern Island, traveling by Landing Craft… 5th - 7th grade… Great memories 😉🇺🇸
I was also in 1973 but I working in the pharmacy as a chinese spy.
I lived there for 2 years in 76-78! I was there in the last school year there.
As part of the memorable 50th Pan AM anniversary flight, PanAm 50, we landed on Midway, a B-747-100, not often flying into the base. In 1985 there were less than 100 people stationed there but they prepared a banquet of sorts, on the tarmac, had the best apple pie ever there. Then took a walk around the island, saw the Japanese graveyard. When it was time to take off, we couldn't. Turns out there were hundred of gooney birds resting on the runway. Navy came out in pickup trucks, and put the birds in the trucks and drove them to the beach. We then took off on our way to Wake, Guam and Manilla. Unforgettable journey. Lucky to be part of it
That had to be fun reliving to old Pan-Am route.
Why dont you visit it agaIn?
Our f18 fighter jet broke down and we had to divert to midway to fix the issues. 2014 for me. Such a beautiful place with beautiful water!
I remember your aircraft, your wingman and the C-130 that brought you the repair team. Those were good days before the island became too political. Region 1 still hasn't figured it out yet. Buildings decay, social problems, and currently, a lack of clear purpose and leadership, both at the refuge and at the regional level. Too many big egos preventing restoration.
I remember your aircraft, your wingman and the C-130 that brought you the repair team. Those were good days before the island became too political. Region 1 still hasn't figured it out yet. Buildings decay, social problems, and currently, a lack of clear purpose and leadership, both at the refuge and at the regional level. Too many big egos preventing restoration.
@@jeffreycoulter4095 ..social problems? didn't the video say about 20 people live there on a rotational basis?
@@senoJSR honestly that probably creates social problems if you cant get used to the same 20 people
I got stuck on Wake for a week
In 1967, my ship (Navy destroyer from Mayport, FL) stopped to refuel at Midway, while going to and from Vietnam.
1968, Did that on a wooden hulled MSO (minesweeper) heading for Vietnam.
A really necessary fueling stop for sweeps.
Me too, 1971
WESPAC 1975 U.S.S. Horne
Damn so you guys went through the Panama Canal too? What a cool trip.
@@joemarinaro8033 Yeah, and to this day, the name Miraflores lock sticks in my mind. When we were leaving to come home we had planned to steam into the Indian Ocean and thru the Red Sea and Mediterranean, but the 6 day war closed off that path and we returned as we came. However, in '68 my ship went to the Indian Ocean and via Brazil and Angola and Cape of Good Hope, so the only part of the world I missed was from the bottom tip of India to Vietnam. The world is a very big place. I'm sure jet travel made it seem to shrink but ship travel at 15-20 kts is quite another matter.
Spent a week on Midway while in the Air Force. I was a Jet Engine tech and we had a C130A gunship with a bad engine. I came out of Hickam AFB with a Prop shop guy to change it out. The T56 A model engine came from Clark AFB.
The first motor they sent was Bad! So they had to send another...the second one WOULD NOT START!
We had 2 generals calling us every few hours wondering why it’s not fixed...even the pilot was out working with us to get it going ( we all wanted off the island ASAP lol)...we tried everything we knew but the igniters would not work...🤬 !!
I lost it and grabbed a mallet and started beating every ignition component I say, jet fuel was running out the exhaust, prop spinning and then boom... it literally fired up flames out the back....heart skipped a beat...but it was finally running...but not 100%....crew decided to go for it they’d had enough of Midway and so did I!!
Now it starts to rain I mean rain downpour! The plane disappeared from sight we stood waiting to see them go then our hopes were dashed...we thought they aborted then suddenly we see them clear the tree line and disappear into the rain👍🎉🎊 could not wait to get off that island!!
We had seconds to spare and a Navy C117 ( souped up C47 ) with room to take us back to Oahu...Was a GREAT FLIGHT...11 hours.. but we had a great time with those guys they loved to eat well!! We had steak with all the trimmings etc....looking back almost 50 years it was a wonderful experience!!!!
Good to know 'jet engine techs' beat on the engines to fix them....I call BS
@@imtheonevanhalen1557 this was 50+ years ago...... I couldn’t see a mechanic beating on a f-35 with a mallet today. My uncle had similar stories being a Vietnam veteran that worked on helicopters.
@@axlerodthegreatbauman6763 if someone does beat on a F-35 engine, i hope someone if filming it!!!
Dennis, Thank you for your service.
@@dudebro8811 Yeah true😁 there is so much more to that story. I would not trade it for anything today lol🇺🇸🇺🇸
I'd love to visit Midway one day...a scenic and peaceful island
My family was stationed there in the early '50s, and I was born there. Grew up watching a lot of slides and 8mm film of base activities and the birds. My dad, a senior chief petty officer, participated in banding of gooney birds as an off-duty activity.
lived there as kid from age 4 -7 1958-61
I was stationed there in 78. Met a guy from california that was born there also. Has two gooney birds on his birth certificate. It was his firtst duty station once enlisting in the navy. His dad was the supply officer in 61! His mom had great stories of returning to the mainland with her new children who had never been off the island.
Does that make you Midwaian?
@@MrCabrera111 Something like that!
There is an Atoll in the South Pacific that sometimes has jobs open for federal police officers.....I was a federal police officer at the time...free housing etc.....I need women in my life....no matter the beauty there on the atoll having a jar of cold cream/porn hub as my companion at night would not be worth it...
Great review of Midway Island, I worked on Midway for two years in the 1990's doing the environmental cleanup of leaked fuel that had accumulated under the sand of the island. We removed the old military fuel farm and many other hazards as well. It is a beautiful place. When I was there it still had 3 holes of the 9 hole golf course still playable and we fished and dove when we had time off.
My dad was a radar operator on the EC-121 planes stationed on Midway Island many years ago, and I recently found his Navy slides of Midway Island after his passing.
Have been to midway lsland?
I love reading all these comments with people who visited from military experience 40-60 years ago. Thank you so much to all you for sharing the comments and stories, and your service
Been there five or six times. Stood on the pulpit and gazed in to to the Crystailline Blue. Having never known beauty before.
i called Midway home from jan. 75 to june 77 lived in ehco barracks, the sand and water were beautiful, I remember a lot of snorkeling
As a retired merchant seaman I use to frequent midway island several times I enjoyed the island and the Albatross gooney birds
Bird watching tours would love that place if it becomes possible again.
(Have all the guests do a group plastic pick up followed by a big seafood feast) start a tradition that helps the place.
@William j Hunter........count me in! I’m not a bird watcher but I’d be willing to help get something like that up and running. I’m doing absolutely nothing anyway.
Not really. It’s all the same few species of pelagic bird. Would be a waste of time and money. The even more actual remote US area of Attu, Alaska is far better and done by a fishing boat service once every year. You stay near an old military station and catch so many rare species and migratory birds from Asia.
If the pelagic birds are not found on Attu the life listers that had been to Attu wouldn't be interested in going back again. Even seeing one new one for the life list makes the trip worth it.
@@kishascape yes but that would mean being cold
I was stationed on midway island for 12 months 1964/1965. US Naval aviation. I used to walk around the island in about 40 minutes. I lived in one of those barracks that you talked about. Been there done that and I saw it all for free. When it was in good shape and not neglected. Bowling alley had the fastest pin setters in the Pacific.
There is an Atoll in the South Pacific that sometimes has jobs open for federal police officers.....I was a federal police officer at the time...free housing etc.....I need women in my life....no matter the beauty there on the atoll having a jar of cold cream/porn hub as my companion at night would not be worth it...
Woah!😮 This island has bowling alley.
@@mnpsinghStill does! The oldest working one in the world!
I spent a few days there in the mid 70's when I was in the Coast Guard. I enjoyed the time on that island immensely. Incredibly peaceful.
i was 6 yrs old on the island when my dad got stationed there for 18 months it was cool
In the late 80’s I was the XO of the USCGC Mallow stationed out of Honolulu, Hi and we had an annual refuel mission to Kure Island for the LORAN C station. Midway was a stop on the way to Kure - playing golf on Midway was always fun since the albatross would steal your golf ball and try and hatch it... Beautiful island - remote but a metropolitan area compared to Kure Island.
I was fortunate to have been able to
visit Midway, while serving aboard the USS Reclaimer ARS 42, several times between 70-72.
On the last visit I got a small group of my
fellow sailors, to try and walk the
permitter of the island in a day. We
almost made it, but we had to cross
the runway at the farthest end from
the base and were met with a large
transport plane that was coming in
for a landing. Just passing overhead
as we halled ass across, what
seemed to be a mile wide tarmac.
Apparently someone on the plane
contacted the base and they sent a
Jeep to pick us up, interrupting our
days goal. We were a little paranoid,
in that we had just had a smoke
before running across the landing
strip. Luckily the driver just took us
back to the pier, where we started,
our ship awaited us. I loved that time.
Joked about it for some time.
Wonderful experience, being Young,
health and stupid… Your video
brought back many memories. Thank
You for that. The sweet air, goony
Birds, the constant wind, white
sands, the big sky and crystal blue,
sea, is treasured forever in my mind.
I do miss my mates, god bless them all.
Hey Jim does the name Dennis Scherer ring any bells with you
@@Rollercoaster555 Hello, Yes, I haven’t heard that name in 51 years. Dennis and I served on the USS Reclaimer, were discharged and flew back from Taiwan on the same plane together. Landed in the States, after a short stop in Hawaii, shook hands after debarked and left for our homes. That was in 1972. I remember Dennis, was a hard sleeper, but leaped out of his bunk, for watch duty, like an athlete, that he wasn’t...lol
It remains an important place for trans-pacific flights. Commercial planes divert to Henderson field in emergencies once or twice a year. There are tens of thousands of gallons of jet fuel stored on the island as well as an air traffic equipment facility.
The island is the property of the parks department. There is no permanent human inhabitants, only goonie birds.
@@daveleon843 There are 50 or so people working there and living temporarily. And yes I've seen the tanks of jet fuel on Google Street view.
I did a fueling layover on Midway in 1974. I was on my way to Japan as part of the deployment of VP-48 a squadron of P-3 Orions that were Sub hunters. The island was stunning. I did a walk around the entire island with my crew. We swam in the clear blue waters and totally love it there. One thing you did not mention is that during that time the island was also home to thousands of parakeets. They were everywhere and seemed to be thriving. I would go there again if I could.
My father was in VP-48 in the late forties and early 50's, he was on most of the remote island bases like I am sure you were but mostly on Okinawa.
The US needs to begin military operations immediately with everything going on with the world. The birds would be a big problems with rotor and fixed wing.
@@aztecacalendario The birds were always a problem. They tried all sorts of things to get them off the runways. Loud speakers blasting crappy music, explosions etc .but nothing really worked very well.
When I was there in April '67 to April '68, we had some P3 Orions stationed there for a while. If I remember right they would go out for 12 hour flights.
Small world I was also in VP-48 87-91
I was a FWS intern there from Feb-Jul 2001 studying seabirds and lived in one of thes two story captains homes. One of the most special times of my life. How I live this place and these animals 💖
Don't eat the fish but you can fish all day,they are full of coral rock and don't swim,the tigers aren't friendly.lol
I also was a FWS intern fromJuly 2001 to Jan.2002 and believ you showed me some albatroos and tropic bird plots.
My dad was at Midway during WW2 in the Navy. He fought in the Pacific.
In 1964 my dad was admin officer. I was 12 yrs old. Perfect age for being on Midway. Collected over 100 fishballs, snorkeling for longusta, and rode all over the Island on my "horse" (Schwin Sting Ray bike). Midway was beautiful. I'm sure I'd be disappointed if I was able to visit again the way Fish & Wildlife cut down all the trees and plastic debris everywhere. Sad.
Fishballs? .....net floats?
@@greatplainsman3662 Yes! Melted down green coke bottles turned into round (balls) fishing net floats. Varying in size from a few inches in diameter to 20 - 30" more or less.
Stayed their couple times while in transit P-3/WESTPAC. Watching Gooney Birds land was the entertainment. Good Times.
My bucket list included the Midway Atoll as I wrote a report on that battle many years ago. Glad to see others still have a dream of seeing this historic island that sits halfway across the Pacific.
Good luck FWS has a lock down there
I would love to visit French frigate shoals, Johnston Island, Midway Atoll and Wake Island. That would be my dream bucket list adventure.
Dream of visiting Iwo Jima, Midway, and Guadalcanal.
the battle of midway is the reason America does not speak Japanese
I'm pleased to say that I spent a few months on Midway in 1981 rebuilding the tugboat pier and had a wonderful time. We worked on rafts tieing rebar and doing formwork in cut-offs and tennis shoes. The rule was that if you fell in the water you had to buy beer for the crew at the end of the day. I almost made it, but suddenly wound up in the warm water one day! I also installed a cathodic protection system on the pier by shooting stainless steel pins into the steel pilings under the water and running wires to magnesium anodes that were installed on the shore to have the magnesium "rust" away instead of the steel pilings. That too was a wonderful experience. I would have my helper load the nail gun with a pin and a bullet round and smear bearing grease into all the openings in the gun and would swim down to the piling with my scuba gear and press the gun against the piling and BOOM. The pin would penetrate the steel piling like it was nothing!
The Navy was there when I was and it was like a training school for alcoholics. If there was weed on the island, no one was in the bars. If the island was "dry", the bars were packed.
We used to entertain ourselves by causing problems for "security", a bunch of clowns playing tough! I loved it and would go back in a heartbeat!
"
I’ve lived on islands before off the Northeast coast, catching & harvesting my own food, taking long kayak trips around the island and exploring every nook and cranny. No electronics, no nonsense from the news, just you, some friends, and a focus to accomplish tasks for gathering food, getting chores done, having fun, and appreciating life.
Islands such as these offer such an isolating peace & calm that filters out the bs and helps you focus on things that matter. If you have an opportunity, take it, wherever it is.
How did you move out there? Job or just saved your money?
Michael Parisi
It was two islands that have been in my friend’s family for over 100 years, they were wise to hold onto it and they recognized the once in a lifetime opportunity it offered. Main one was roughly 2 mile circumference. Today it would cost a fortune.
Has several cabins and houses on it, rustic, no fluffed up nonsense, but perfectly comfortable. Several different micro biomes and the water was crystal clear. We would swim down to harvest large clams that made great stew. Throw some food scraps in the crab pot in the morning and pull up 30-50 crabs for dinner, we would put back some big and small ones and take what we needed.
Just an abundance of life on the island and in the water.
It was an amazing experience, today to get that same experience you either have to be super wealthy, have a good friend like I do, inherit it, or seek out lesser known areas.
Promiscuous Crab Sentinel Island it is lol
Promiscuous Crab your not talking (I won’t say the name of it or state)
an island near r**** bluffs are you???
Iv been there many times for work, and live not far away, you said it was in a family for over 100 years and is a small group of people that live there mostly workers and a few old houses house there
The problem with "no nonsense from the news" is that the world is still getting worse every day and that "running away"/"closing your eyes to the bad stuff destroying your country" will not stop it from happening. WWII was bad ... but the current fight against the slow corruption of the entire western culture by rebranded communism is far worse, because the front lines arent clear and we have to fight on our home turf ... AND the commies have already taken a lot of important infrastructure, like the media, education and a large chunk of the bureaucracy.
Stopped on Midway on the way to Guam in 1973. Dependent wife with 2 year old son. Really humbled being on site of the battle of Midway.
I lived there in the mid 70’s as a Navy kid.
We diverted there in 1999 after Fish and Wildlife took over. The running theme was: People bad. We were allowed on a single beach about 50 yards wide. Not allowed in the water. I’m glad I got to go somewhere (Wake, too) that had such historical value, but did not feel welcome.
Thank you for the video. My grandfather was a civilian worker there in 1941. He had worked there a year and I just played a 78 rpm acetate that he recorded on the island. He talks of the colors of the water, the friendly birds, the mess hall to feed the workers etc., Another acetate is he and co workers talking of returning to the USA for a month vacation....on November 1941. How lucky was that vacation.
I have a strange fascination with Midway. Chances I’ll ever make my way there are almost zero, especially since civilian travel is off. It’s so remote and yet so historical. A literal island in the middle of nowhere yet it was the center of things in the 20th century power struggle.
Google maps has really amazing images of the island. So much infrastructure left still standing. Like a tropical ghost town
The WW11 battle that saved the World!
I myself would love to live on Midway as a resident. I would love to take care of the place and try to do upkeep.
Pretty crazy the biggest WWII pacific battle took place “Battle of Midway” and now it’s a isolated and quiet island inhabited by some people.
I lived & worked on Midway for 3 yrs, loved it!
I was a Sonar Tech on USS Charles Berry (DE-1035) in 72/73. We often stopped at Midway for refueling. One stop was at the peak of Albatross mating season. Gooney birds everywhere making their hilarious landings. One stop lasted for a week, give or take. Not much to do except movies at the base theater, but I enjoyed the experience immensely. Would love to go back.
My grandfather who was a construction supervisor for the military was instrumental in the construction of the first military grade airstrip there. He also did the same at Canton Island.
Back around 1999 - 2000, I met an individual who told me that he had arranged a lease; he called it a concession, from U.S. Fish and Game to run a scuba diving resort (I use that last term loosely) on Midway Atoll in 1996. He told me it was a huge business mistake. I won't go into all the boring details, but he said the scuba diving in the lagoon was rather disappointing. Midway is volcanic and the water is too cold to form coral reefs so the scenery at the edge of the lagoon is drab volcanic boulders rather than colorful coral reefs. Also, no wrecks of any Japanese or American planes which may have crashed within the lagoon during the Battle of Midway have ever been discovered. (At least not while he was there.) You can see from the high altitude photos that would be a wide area to search. Also, the U.S. Navy forbade diving on anything in the lagoon that belonged to them. The U.S. planes which were shot down around Midway were U.S. Marine Corps aircraft, which technically belongs to the Navy. The Navy even forbade diving on a sunken barge which was swamped by a storm in the 1950's. On the positive side, he did say the deep sea fishing is exceptional, but Midway Phoenix Air owned that concession.
The great irony is that this guy was allowed to mitigate his business blunder by selling the remainder of his scuba diving concession to a Japanese tourist company. Whether this company was able to bring any Japanese tourists out to Midway in the final couple of years before everything got shut down is something I have no knowledge of. What would their advertising pitch have sounded like? "Come and conquer the island your grandfathers failed to conquer."
@Andy Larson LOL what, rainbow runners are not poisonous. They can get ciguatera which can make you pretty sick, but not kill you, but only one confirmed case has ever been recorded.
I was part of the construction group doing an environmental cleanup of the island in 1995-1996 and took my open water diving and advanced open water diving course from that company. It was a great place to learn.
Lived there form 78-79. Changed my perspective on life on earth.
I flew numerous missions out of Midway Island between 1973 and 1975 with the US Air Force monitoring Soviet ICBM testing. I loved spending time on Midway, and am very sorry to see how it has deteriorated over the years.
indicitive of america as a whole. used to be beautiful, amazing. now just a neglected pile of trash...
I've been there twice. In 1992 our C-130 spent the night there. We were heading home to Alaska after coming out of Australia. The place was crawling with gooney birds. And as we took off the next morning, we sucked a gooney bird into number three engine and had to reject the takeoff. After getting the engine hosed out by the fire department we had to rotate the prop a few inches at a time while the flight engineer inspected the turbine blades for damage. An hour or two later we tried again and made it home late that night.
The second time was in the late 90s. We were on a mission in Hawaii when we got the word we needed to deliver a five pound box containing a part needed for a State Department B737 stranded there. So about a four hour flight each way with a few minutes on the ground. This time, there were no gooney birds on the island.
In Feb 1979, I was part of a USAF C-130 aircrew that was returning to the US from Japan. We stopped at Midway to refuel and even though it was around 8pm local time (as I recall), we could see the gooney birds hanging around the runway and taxiway. I wish I could've seen it in the daytime.
I was there in late 1965 on my way to Vietnam. We were on a USAF C-141 and was there just long enough to refuel.
I’ve obsessed over Midway myself. Really want to visit.
As a Marine, I stopped at Midway every few years flying to Japan from the US. We needed to fuel up so we could tank the fighters going over. When the gooney birds were in, they drove jeeps and trucks on the runway to clear it so we could land and take off. Only government vehicles were allowed--individuals could own or rent "horses", that is, bicycles to get around. The place was operated by PanAm World Services then, with one Air Force officer and a bunch of Filipino workers. I don't remember the lodge they showed in the video clip, but it's been over fifty years now and I may be confounding it with Wake in my mind. Our alternate stop-off would have been Wake Island, which was even more remote but farther south and had no gooney birds, at least when I went through.
I spent a lot of time in and out of Wake Island between 1970 and 72. In route to Vietnam, it was a crew rest for us on C-141s.
Hey! If it was Wednesday we were on time for steak night! And the beer bar was down by the lagoon between Peale Island and Wake.
Unfortunately, I've nursed a few sunburns there.
But, you're right, no albatross, at all.
I was stationed on NAS/NAF Midway Island for 1.5 years while in the Navy 1978-1979
Same here. Fred from the galley. With seabee's in alpha barracks. Being young was just so much fun there. Just heard from the band "contraband" I was the drummer. 45 yrs. ago
Weather office 79-80 why cause I care dam it. Loved windsurfing and sailing the lagoon.
Always wanted to visit Wake Island; to study the battle and to experience isolation. Two weeks would be about right. Thanks for the video.
My late father was stationed at Midway during WWII, after the big battle. He and his USN buddies didn’t always follow regulations, but they did their job. The standing joke in sick bay was having a bad case of Terra Firma - lack of it.
I spent a week on Midway in the late 90s. It was soon after the Eco_Tourism venture failed. We were there for a site visit for a potential Army communications station. As an archaeologist, I loved see the historic site first hand. I did'nt enjoy the 1.5 million nesting pairs of albatrosses. The whole island smelled like a giant chicken coop. I've also spent a lot of time at Wake Atoll.
Not to jump off subject but I noticed your hat? Is it a Civil War slouch hat?
@@tomweaverling1366 It can be but it is really more of mid to late 19th century civilian hat.
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400 gotcha. You a reenactor?
What was Wake Island like, did it have a bird problem also?
@@tomweaverling1366 Use to be. I'm too old and fat to be a convincing 20 year old soldier these day. I now own a small company that sells bullet molds to make historically correct projectiles for reproduction Civil War weapons. "Eras Gone Bullet Molds." I still dress the part for CZcams vids when marketing my products.
I went to Midway several years ago to shoot a news story and was impressed by the endless number of nesting birds on the ground and the beauty of the beaches and island. Not an easy trip to make, logistically, but well worth it.
Did you see a lot of plastic washed up on the beach?
I rode a C-47 from Hickam Air Field up the iskand chain to Midway. We never went above 9600 feet. I got a good view of every single island. It's about a 1000 mile trip so it was maybe 6 hours.
Surprised that the FWS allowed It they probably didn't tell how they ruined the island
Those birds don't really have any natural predators there. That's why there's so many of them.
Thank you so much for educating me on Midway quite a history. I bet it would be fun to metal detect there.
Watching this from Kwajalein Atoll... looks very similar. The blues of the water are amazing.
Scott, this is excellent. I too want to visit Midway Island one day. Thank you for sharing this video.
I was in the pacific barrier squadron that flew between Midway Island and Adak, Alaska. I would go out to Midway; T A D: as part of an air crew on the A E W, Lockheed Constellations we flew. That is till I had an allergic reaction to the 500k birds that make their home on the Atoll. Grounded: Medical discharge, fond memories of the year I spent on Midway Island. Watching Goony Birds land on land, afer being at sea for a year. Gives a whole new meaning to "head over heels".
Thank you very much for your education. Being a retired Marine I know how important midway was for our country during WW2.
Semper Fi
Thank you kindly for your service, JP.
@@Last_one_before_I_go ❤️🇺🇸
Midway--- Thanks!!
My dad was a Marine and was there in the early 60’s...he said it was beautiful and always wanted to go back one day. It’s on my bucket list...
I was on Midway, for one day in 1974, beautiful place.
Forgot to Add, Great Video brought back many Memories of good times. Island looked the same back in those years barricks, chow hall, and pier still standing but with less rust on the Airport Hanger.
I was stationed on Midway . I ran the SAR center . I was also NAVY SAILOR of the year runner-up for the Navy . 1973 to 1975 . Raymond Willoughby, QM1 when I trf to Japan , Dec 75
BTW , MY HOUSE WAS THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE BIG HOUSE SHOWN . TOPSIDE WAS 4 APTS
Went out there with the Royal Air Force when our squadron was doing secret stuff, absolutely loved the place. Waterskiing, sailing, BBQs galore and of course the frowned upon Dustbin Parties.
Glad to hear I’m not the only one with a strange fascination about this island. Thanks for the video.
1971, a tin can, we stopped to refuel only and started making turns for home, we had just finished fire support and surface raid ops in the So, China sea, couldn't depart fast enough.
Kudos @Scott Dailey. Very informative and well-produced.
Absolutely great video thanks for posting it . Some very good history !!
Scott Dailey - this is some good quality material. Keep improving because you’re really onto something important. Thank you for an awesome video.
thank you!
Continued from last post. our prick Divison officer a Ltjg named Smith told the Division absolutely no drinking! But after he walked away the Chief Boatswain said the first Beer was on him! So needless to say the whole deck and gunnersmate divisions came back to the ship drunk! Our division officer was really pissed off and said that everyone was going on report! At that time the chief Gunneramate ( who was drunker than anyone else) took Mr Smith aside and told him that it would be the last thing he ever did backed down and nothing was done about it!
I still would like to go back to Midway it was a beautiful place! Sam Neal
Always an idiot named Smith......................
Yep, 👍 it's really the Chiefs that run the Navy! (US Navy Seabee. 1987-1991⚓)
"The day that 'ol Smitty grew up" !
Travis, Hickam, Midway, Wake Island, Kadena, Yokota, Clark, Don Muang, Korat Jan.'73, USAF. Got souvenirs from every stop. I couldn't believe how many military personnel there were at Midway & Wake.
I was also in Azores...twice! Thanks for a great video 😊
Spent 54 hours there in 1981. Was given the assignment straight out of Navy boot camp and once I got to the island they asked me what I was doing there? The Navy had changed my orders the day after I got them and never informed me or cancelled my transportation. It took three attempts to land flying out from Hawaii as the cross winds were too strong to land.
I would without a doubt visit this place. Great vid!
Love to see you exploring areas out of Texas!
Im always curious about this island and its also my lifetime dream to visit Midway. Thanks for the awesome video
During 1964 my ship made numerous stops at Midway Atoll when we patrolled the area between Midway and Adak Alaska. This was an extension of the Dew Line. As mentioned, Albatross were the most noticeable feature. Not only that but the Goonie Birds followed our ship throughout the duration of our patrols.
Thanks for the great video. The pictures helped me visualize the size of the island which was always difficult to do in my imagination alone. I just finished reading "Incredible Victory" by Walter Lord, which is the story of the Battle of Midway. It must have been scary for the Americans there on June 4, 1942, as they became aware that 5,000 Japanese troops were preparing to land and take the island.
I am old enough to remember "before all the plastic" by that I mean before bottled drinks when glass ruled. We really need to go back to glass. Plastic has become a bane. The "bottle water" crazy was to blame. Everyone drank from the faucet unless you lived in an area with high sulfer content.
Man I still drink from the faucet. I think we still have good water where I live. It taste good.
Environmentalists continue to harp on climate change when the single biggest threat to the environment is plastic. Even recycling is not the answer if more and more plastic is produced every day.
Unfortunately from the tidal waves & Typhoons in recent years washed most of the debris into the oceans. That would explain why there isnt as much in the Atlantic or the indian oceans. Still the debris is there and does create a problem.
We Can thank neoliberalism wallstreet/ big business corporations - Oil /coca cola plastic bottles industry etc for the creation of the plastic garbage patch the environmental destruction that just plastic bottles let alone all the other forms of pollution have causeed around the world since 1980.
@@Bob31415 environmentalists also harp on plastic , nuclear weapons and climate change the biggest threats to humans and the environment
I lived on Midway Island for 3years 1969- 1973. I worked at the exchange! I loved every single day ! If they ever allow me and family (my husband is a retired Navy) and would be there ASAP !!!!
I was stationed on midway for 2 years, 70 to 72 and loved it.
Excellent video. Thanks for making it.
I was there for 2 weeks as SP during a PE op back in 90/91(?) absolutely stunning and like I saw someone else comment, I’d live the rest of my days there if I could.
Finally someone who understands the difference between wary and weary.
I did a night at Kwajalein in 92. I thought that was a little farther than Midway but not sure. If Midway was anything like Kwajalein then bless everyone who ever served there. Lol. Beautiful. Absolutely. But my god I would have gone crazy.
Very nice and well put together video. Thanks for sharing it.
On my first WestPac in '79 my ship stopped at Midway Island to take on some fuel. We were on our way to Japan to join the Midway carrier battle group. I just now realized the irony of that.
Also one of the places I would like to visit too! As a military historian maybe this is understandable!
Very well done. Thank you!
The peace and quiet of living there would be great. Bicycling, jogging, swimming and just enjoying the beauty and serenity there would be awesome.