Response to Mr. Russell Re Leadership vs Luck at Midway

Mr. Russell: Thank you for your comments.

You have pointed out one of the more interesting moments in the engagement, when CAG McClusky, already at the end of his fuel ladder, spotted the Japanese destroyer and acted on that information. I would suggest though that the leadership, and the preparation demanded by the leaders, 'armed' McCluskey with the necessary information to make the right decision when an opportunity was presented. Without that clarity of thought and the decision to act, the opportunity would have been missed. Arguably, opportunities present themselves to everyone every day, but it is the issue of whether we act that makes the event appear fortuitous or not.