Barbers Point NAS

Went over to Pearl Harbor Sub Base this morning along with Adams and Fisler. Fuzzy, who already has the Navy cross (the first to be given in the Pacific War) was presented with the Air Medal for his rescue of five pilots shot down during the Midway battle. Admiral Nimitz, who seems to be one hell of a nice old fellow, praised old “Fuz” to high heaven, and told the assembled officers that they had better pray that “Lt. Fisler“ was around when their ships went down.

Adams and I both received the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) for our participation in the night torpedo attack at Midway. Adams, I feel, really deserves his as he did an excellent job at navigating, and is directly responsible for my being alive today. But somehow I feel as though I don’t deserve mine. The citation accompanying it is undeniably exaggerated. If I had been in charge I can truthfully assert that things would’ve gone more successfully. But I wasn’t, and hence, due to circumstances beyond my control, the attack, to my way of thinking was a disgusting failure. All my life I thought of the DFC is being one of the most wonderful of awards, but now this “phony” presentation has taken all the glitter off it. Perhaps many, many other men have also felt this way about their awards. Anyhow, in the months to come I shall do my best to earn it in a befitting manner and hope I can someday bestow it upon myself justifiably. In the meantime it stays in the box!

Into town to the Halekulani for dinner with Patu. She was furious with me afterwards for refusing point blank to accompany her home – way up in that damn Nuuanu Valley in a blackout. To hell with chivalry, I was tired and went to bed.