The Naval Academy held a ceremony June 3 at the Battle of Midway Memorial to remember the battle, known widely as the turning point of WWII in the Pacific, and to honor the men who valiantly fought there.
The elements of this ceremony may have appeared in countless similar remembrances through-out the Navy – the wreath laying, honors, speeches – but each year this ceremony holds a very personal connection to the Naval Academy Band.
Master Chief Musician Bruce Smith scripted and emceed this year’s Midway ceremony, while Musician 1st Class Pat Sarracco conducted the ceremonial band and Chief Musician John Babcock performed “Taps.” For them and many other band members in attendance, the ceremony brought memories of an old friend, former Naval Academy bandsman retired Chief Musician Robert Clark Cady. Born June 7, 1915, in Mason, Mich., he joined the Navy as a trumpet player in 1937. He served aboard USS Lexington (CV-2), USS Saratoga (CV-3) and was serving on USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the Battle of Midway when she was struck by Japanese dive bombers.
Despite valiant attempts to save her, the carrier sank on June 7, 1942. USS Fulton (AS-11) rescued Cady and the other survivors and transported them to Pearl Harbor. He went on to serve in bands ashore at stations in Miami, San Diego, and Alaska. During the Korean War, he returned to sea duty aboard USS Missouri (BB-63), USS Hancock (CVA-19), and USS Oriskany (CVA-34) before reporting to the new USS Yorktown (CV-10) as the band’s leader. He was later assigned to the Naval Academy Band, where he retired in 1973 after 36 years of naval service.
Cady’s love of music kept him performing with local bands and at Naval Academy Band alumni concerts until just one year before his death in 2007 at the age of 92. As a result, he still has many friends in the band today, nearly 40 years after his retirement. Over the years, each new generation of the band would be introduced to him saying, “He was on the Yorktown when she sank,” to which Bob, with a twinkle in his eye, would quickly add, “But it wasn’t my fault!”
Each June, as we remember the heroes of Midway, our thoughts will always turn to our friend and colleague, Chief Musician Bob Cady, whose honorable service born from a love of country and a love of music, remains an example to Navy musicians today.
