First Bombardment of Midway

The First Bombardment of Midway, or the First Bombardment of Sand Island, or Attack on Midway, was a small land and sea engagement of World War II. It occurred on the very first day of the Pacific War, 7 December 1941, not long after the major Battle of Pearl Harbor. Two Imperial Japanese destroyers bombarded Sand Island of Midway Atoll. The Japanese successfully damaged the U.S. Marine base before being engaged by American shore batteries and forced to flee.

Background
Before the beginning of the Pacific War, American marines were stationed on Midway and had established a small base with the ability to service land, sea and air forces. The marines also constructed all of the bases' fortifications; civilian contractors constructed the buildings. They used 5 inch (130 mm) guns, built in 1916, and 3 inch (76 mm) guns of 1921 to defend the islands. Fortifications dating back to 1905 were also manned. At this time, the U.S. had been focused on the war against Nazi Germany, and once the war began, generally all of the new military equipment produced was sent to the African and European theaters of operations. The newest military equipment sent to Europe and Africa ranged from warships to small arms, leaving only the relics for the U.S. Marines in the Pacific. Not only were Pearl Harbor, Wake Island and the Philippines attacked in the opening phase of the conflict, but Midway was shelled as well by two Japanese destroyers, JAPANESE DESTROYER Ushio and JAPANESE DESTROYER Sazanami.

Bombardment
The two destroyers were part of the Japanese fleet that had just attacked Pearl Harbor. Overall, the unit was under the command of Captain Ohishi Kaname, though Lieutenant Commander Yoshitake Uesugi skippered Ushio and Lieutenant Commander Hiroshi Uwa skippered the other destroyer. The engagement began at 09:31 and lasted 54 minutes. The American command, communications and power plant building was damaged by a 5 in shell, which deflected off an adjacent laundromat. Battery "H" commander—First Lieutenant George H. Cannon—was hit by shrapnel in the pelvis while inside the command building. By this time the communications were down from enemy fire so Lieutenant Cannon refused medical attention until he was assured that the communications were restored to the post and until the wounded marines around him were evacuated.

By the time Cannon received aid from a medic, it was too late and he perished due to blood loss. For Cannon's "distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, extraordinary courage, and disregard of his own condition", he received the first Medal of Honor issued to a U.S. Marine for actions in the Second World War. A street on Sand Island was named after Cannon and continues to be known by that name, a 1943 destroyer escort—USS Cannon (DE-99)—was also named after him. Six Japanese rounds struck and entered the main PBY Catalina hangar and destroyed a PBY inside; the Pilot and Fireman were killed (see next paragraph) other civilians inside survived without injury. The hospital was hit also and burned. All of the damaged buildings were quickly rebuilt by the civilian contractors.

Shell craters littered the ground all around the buildings of Sand Island. The Marines did not use aircraft against the attacking Japanese. They did use their artillery batteries, and managed to damage one of the destroyers when they came within range. The other destroyer quickly laid a smokescreen and the two vessels Oretired. Four men died on Midway that morning; other marines had slight injuries. Several United States Navy sailors were on the island during the attack; two of them were killed, Ensign Donald J. Kraker and Fireman Second Class Ralph E. Tuttle. John J. Szajkowski survived with another sailor by jumping in the water when they saw the planes coming for the hanger. Two marines were killed, Lieutenant Cannon and Private First Class Elmer R. Morrell. Japanese casualties are unknown, Ushio fired 109 rounds and Sazanami fired 193.

Aftermath
In February 1942 a Japanese submarine bombarded the atoll and a few months later, the great naval Battle of Midway was won, which is regarded as the most important naval battle of the war and the turning point in the Pacific theatre of operations. The Marines by that time had received reinforcements, both personnel and some newer and bigger guns, all of which were used by the Marine garrison when they engaged attacking Japanese A6M2 Zeros in June 1942. The marines also fought a deadly dog fight ending with heavy casualties for American forces and a loss of seven Japanese aircraft.