The most remote place in America: Midway Atoll 

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.

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.

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.

I was stationed there in 1984. I would live there forever if I could.

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.

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.

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.

I lived there for 2 years in 76-78! I was there in the last school year there.

The whole plastic thing really passes me off and I'm not even a greenie. Litter is just something I've never understood.

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.

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 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.

This video has some of the most interesting comments I've seen on RU-vid. 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.

I lived there from 1970-1974. I was a kid at the time. Great place for kids!

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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!!!!

In 1967, my ship (Navy destroyer from Mayport, FL) stopped to refuel at Midway, while going to and from Vietnam.

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 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

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.

Been there five or six times. Stood on the pulpit and gazed in to to the Crystailline Blue. Having never known beauty before.

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.

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 💖

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.

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.

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.

As a retired merchant seaman I use to frequent midway island several times I enjoyed the island and the Albatross gooney birds

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.

i was 6 yrs old on the island when my dad got stationed there for 18 months it was cool

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'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 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.

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.

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.

I lived there in the mid 70’s as a Navy kid.

My dad was at Midway during WW2 in the Navy. He fought in the Pacific.

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

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.

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.

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’ve obsessed over Midway myself. Really want to visit.

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."

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 myself would love to live on Midway as a resident. I would love to take care of the place and try to do upkeep.

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.

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.

I was stationed on NAS/NAF Midway Island for 1.5 years while in the Navy 1978-1979

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.

Stayed their couple times while in transit P-3/WESTPAC. Watching Gooney Birds land was the entertainment. Good Times.

Watching this from Kwajalein Atoll... looks very similar. The blues of the water are amazing.

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.

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 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.

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.

Always wanted to visit Wake Island; to study the battle and to experience isolation. Two weeks would be about right. Thanks for the video.

Finally someone who understands the difference between wary and weary.

I lived on Midway in the early 1960's. My father was in the Navy flying on planes to the Aleutian islands and back during the Cold War with Russia. We lived there 3 years. Great place to live for a kid.

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'd love to visit Midway one day...a scenic and peaceful island

Lived there form 78-79. Changed my perspective on life on earth.

I was on Midway, for one day in 1974, beautiful place.

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".

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.

Thank you very much for your education. Being a retired Marine I know how important midway was for our country during WW2. Semper Fi

Glad to hear I’m not the only one with a strange fascination about this island. Thanks for the video.

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.

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.

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 😊

Thank you so much for educating me on Midway quite a history. I bet it would be fun to metal detect there.

Scott Dailey - this is some good quality material. Keep improving because you’re really onto something important. Thank you for an awesome video.

Sailed there in 2005. Highlight in my life for sure.

Depending on the winds, the flight from Honolulu to Tokyo goes right over Midway. I have seen many times from the left seat at 35,000'. BTW the the flight from Honolulu to Guam goes over Wake Island. Much respect to the pioneers of the Pacific and Pan American Airways.

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.

Scott, this is excellent. I too want to visit Midway Island one day. Thank you for sharing this video.

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

I flew C-130s and made a few trips to Midway in the 1980s and last trip in 1990. I just found the Zippo lighter I bought at the little exchange on Midway. The lighter had Midway Island printed on it. For 20 years it was lost, but now it's found. From the first flight I made there in 1986 to my last flight in 1990, the Navy was downsizing rapidly. Coming into Midway, you must notify base operations when you are 100 nautical miles away and give them your ETA as they need time to move the albatrosses off of the runway. They actually have three or four sailors in a pick-up truck who will literally have to pick up the gooney-birds and get them off of the runway, taxiways and VAL ramp. You have to see it to believe it. The gooney birds are everywhere and you can squat down and put your face right up to theirs and they will barely move, if they move at all. Their nests are all throughout the old golf course, ball fields, green areas and anywhere they feel suitable. And when they are aloft and soaring along the shoreline, they are mesmerizing seeing them bank and turn and zoom on the air currents, seemingly without ever flapping their wings. They are masters of soaring on the ocean breezes. Hitting one of those gooneys would seriously do some damage or FOD the engines if they decided to get airborne as we were touching down. And one of those robust birds would make a big mess getting sucked up and sliced and diced in the whirring turboprops of a C-130. It is the same thing for departure, they drive around picking up the gooneys and putting them in the pick up for a relocation ride off of the airfield. It gave me a melancholy feeling whenever I flew into Midway. Knowing the history here during the Battle of Midway and that during its heyday, in the 1960s and 1970s there were over 5,000 military personnel and their families assigned to this Naval Air Station. But to see it a shell of itself made me feel a bit bummed out, times were changing. Many of the facilities were closing or closed. There was no billeting as we were used to. They told us to pick a room in one of the only dormitories that were still serviceable and open. The 4 story dorm was empty except for my crew. It was beyond a ghost town feeling. The old school and highschool were fenced off and had "Out Of Bounds" spray painted on the side of the main school building. We still went inside to look around. On another mission, I was slightly sick with a head cold. I had trouble clearing my ears when climbing in altitude. I went to the Midway Infirmary, that was a two person show, nobody else was at this medical building.. The doctor was a contract civilian physician from Austria. He was a cool old head. He was 63 years old and had a young wife. They had a 2 year old toddler. He told me he had one year left on his 3 year contract. He was stoked to have a patient because it was pretty slow then, there with only 300 permanent Naval personnel there at the time. Anyways he took a big stainless steel syringe and with warm water douched out my ear canal and a giant plug of wax from my right ear. This plug of wax was massive. After that I had no problem clearing my ears on climb out or descent. Visiting this physician was like dropping in to see a country doctor who was just happy to spend time with a new face. It was the most laid back medical visit I have had in my 63 years of existence. He was a good soul. I guess they didn't shove the uptight stick up his as like they do to the newly minted doctors today. One time we flew a bunch of Aeromedical Evacuation nurses there for a training flight and were there for a couple days. It was one big party and then we flew them to Hilo for a week of more fun in the Sun. And what goes TDY stays TDY. I hit many of the famous atolls and Islands that were significant points in the WWII Pacific Battles. Kwajalein, Guam, Wake, Johnston Atoll, The Philippines and of course Hawaii where ir all started. Prior to becoming being a 'zero' (officer) and aviator in the USAF, I was enlisted as a hard charging Marine and to this day, claim the Marine Corps as my tribe. Visiting everyone of the islands and atolls was beyond a moving experience for me, especially Wake Island. There is a humble memorial there to Major Devereux and the Marines who against overwhelming odds, held off the Japanese assault forces for over 2 weeks. Standing next to that memorial on the then deserted coral beach of a nearly empty Wake Island sent my mind swimming and imagining what had transpired at that very spot some 45 years before(this was1986). For a minute or two, I was swept away from the tranquil setting on that beautiful day. I was thinking of the courage and determination of the few who held out for as long as they did. Some great memories flying airlift missions during the 1980s and 1990s. The days of the last of the great deals. That era has sadly passed. We flew the missions, got the job done and had a great time doing it.

My dad was stationed here in WW2 before he got his duty aboard submarines. He did not care for Midway too much.

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.

As I am retired Archaeologist I have been trying to go to Midway Atoll do some study work. I have come close but no cigar a number of times DANG!

USS Wadsworth (FFG-9) visited Midway to refuel in 1986. We were there for about 7 hours and had time to walk around the island. Glad I was able to visit.

It has been said about Pacific atolls. They arent a tall atoll at all.

I’ve never been there but I’ve been to Wake Island and Diego Garcia and they both seem pretty remote to me.

I lived there from 1957-1960, when navy aircraft flew radar patrols from Barbers Point In Hawaii to Alaska to detect potential Soviet bombers en route to the US. A wonderful place for a 12 year old, probably not so interesting for the average sailor. I’ll love to go back for a visit.

"The most remote place in America" Saint Matthew Island: *Am I a joke to you?* You know a place like Saint Matthew is remote when it's called the most remote place in ALASKA

They are Laysan albatross. They only come to breed on the island - none are there year round. Spent over a decade going back and forth to the Atoll until 2014.

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.

Kudos @Scott Dailey. Very informative and well-produced.

I was on the cutter sassafras and had the opportunity to come here three times. The last time, I hung out in a hammock on the beach for three days reading mutiny on the bounty. What a wonderful opportunity in memory that most of the 8 billion of us will never get to experience

There is also Wake Island and Johnston Atoll for often forgotten and isolated parts of the United States.