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Commissioned eight days after the end of World War II in 1945, the USS Midway — the largest warship in the world until 1955 — was named in honor of that epic American victory. Decommissioned in 1992 and now celebrating its 20th anniversary as one of San Diego's most popular destinations, the Midway served for 47 years, most recently as flagship in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. "ere were a bunch of crazy guys who really wanted to start a carrier museum in San Diego," says Rear Admiral Terry Kraft, U.S. Navy (Ret.), a pilot who served three deploy- ments aboard the Midway, including more than 40 combat missions during Desert Storm. "One of the hardest parts was convincing the city it could be via- ble," continues Kraft, who is now pres- ident and CEO of the USS Midway Museum. "ere were many on the city council who thought the ship would get visitors for a year, and then become a rusting hulk the city would have to pay to tow away." Among those who convinced the councilmembers other- wise were museum co-founders Pattie Roscoe and Scott McGaugh, along with Kraft's predecessor, Rear Admiral John "Mac" McLaughlin, U.S. Navy (Ret.). Earlier this year, the ship welcomed her 20 millionth visitor overall. e Midway literally changed naval war tactics when she took to the seas. She was the first U.S. carrier too large to trav- el through the Panama Canal. When first launched, the Midway's flight deck was also ringed with antiaircraft machine guns to guard against kami- kaze pilots, which were the greatest threat at the time. e machine guns were removed when the original flight deck, designed for propeller planes, was refitted in 1955 with a larger, angled flight deck to accom- modate the new jet-powered aircraft. With its history and four-acre flight deck offering some of the finest views anywhere in San Diego, the USS Midway Museum now hosts more than 700 events a year, including Navy retirements, reenlistments, and changes of command. e ship also welcomes 50,000 students a year with field trips and overnight programs including every school district in San Diego. "We're very proud of our education program," says Kraft, which also includes virtual connections with classrooms in 42 states, something that started during the pandemic. e classes focus on STEM education, "but students on the Midway also have time to walk around the ship and hear stories about service and sacrifice and team- work, things they don't get exposed to every day at school," Kraft adds. ere is a phrase Kraft uses and one that is often heard aboard the Midway — "Midway Magic" — which includes the fact that the Midway launched more than 3,000 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm without a single loss. In addition to his time on the Midway, Kraft, who was selected from more than 500 candidates, previously commanded the newly launched carrier USS Ronald Reagan between 2005 and 2008, and was later flagship officer in charge of the USS Enterprise strike group. Taking care of a 79-year-old ship float- ing in salt water is no easy task. ere are always capital projects the public does not see, but a major reason for the museum's success is that over the past two decades, the 800 volunteers and 200 staff who crew the Midway have worked tirelessly to open more and more of the ship to the public. With interactive technology and audio from former Midway sailors, there are now more than 60 locations open to the public, including sleeping quarters, galley, bridge, brig, pilots' ready rooms, and officers' quarters. Most recently, the Midway completed a six-month proj- ect on the island superstructure con- taining the ship's bridge and flight con- trol center, and opened a new exhibit below deck that takes people through an onboard fire emergency. Kraft is excited about another new exhibit, e Women Who Built Midway. "As near as we can tell from shipyard records, 30 percent of the people who built the Midway were women, and 70 percent of the aircraft workers who built the planes that flew from it were also women," says Kraft. And last year, the Midway initiated Jingle Jets, lighting up the Embarcadero with Santa Claus on an ejection seat, which drew 20,000 visitors and is planned again for this year. Still, among the biggest news involving the Midway, demolition began last month for Freedom Park at Navy Pier. When completed in 2028, Freedom Park, which will wrap around the Midway, will be the largest veterans park on the West Coast, including a nature garden and monuments. While some on the city council worried about the Midway being able to support itself, since 2015, the Midway Foundation itself has grant- ed nearly $4 million to more than 130 organizations whose primary goal is improving the lives and communities of veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders. midway.org Focus military << " " Students on the Midway have time to walk around the ship and hear stories about service and sacrifice and teamwork, things they don't get exposed to every day at school ranchandcoast.com 64 OCTOBER 2024 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE