It's a shame about Joe Rochefort.

breadcatcher101 · 05-16-09, 06:30 AM

Recieved no real credit for what he did towards the battle of Midway. There was a move to have him recieve an award but it was killed by the Washington Code Team as they felt they deserved the credit. Being somewhat bitter about the whole thing he requested sea duty only to be assigned to a floating dry dock, his only command.

I don't think we would have done so well in the Midway Operation without his 6th sense, escecially his idea about finding out that the Japanese call sign for Midway was AF.

My hat is off to him for his many hours cracking codes which allowed victory to be possible.

rditto48801 · 05-16-09, 07:40 AM

Was he the one that got mentioned in one of the WWII movies about midway, having sent a messenger to Midway to have them send a (false) report about water supply troubles, so they could monitor to see if intercepted Japanese messages made any mention of places having water troubles?

breadcatcher101 · 05-16-09, 07:43 AM

Yes, that was him, stayed below and lived like a hermit working on cracking codes.

squadldr76 · 05-16-09, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breadcatcher101

Yes, that was him, stayed below and lived like a hermit working on cracking codes.

"You know, Joe, it really stinks down here. How often do some of your people take a bath?" - Charlton Heston (Midway)

Now that I know a little more about the battle, the film is a little aggravating to watch, but I still love that line...

Torplexed · 05-16-09, 09:22 AM

Yeah...it's a sad story. The only thing Joe was guilty of, if you can call it that, was not being as ambitious as some in the intelligence community who were more than happy to marginalize him to further their careers and bureaucratic territory.

Platapus · 05-16-09, 10:22 AM

A sad story but not at all unusual. That is the nature of Intel.

If you are looking for glory or recognition, you don't work Intel.

The Intelligence profession is full of unrecognized heros. Most of them never reach the fame of Joe.

We have a lot to be thankful for, knowing that there are people (past and current) quietly working the Intel issues knowing that they will never be recognized (unless something goes wrong).

tomoose · 05-16-09, 10:58 AM

Platapus;
amen brother. In the military intel and comms are two things generally taken for granted unless something goes badly wrong, then the finger pointing starts, LOL

PortsmouthProwler · 05-16-09, 01:28 PM

Double Edged Secrets by Holmes (another US Navy intel officer) is an excellent source to read.

vanjast · 05-17-09, 11:40 AM

I think he challenged a few 'political' admirals, and proved them wrong.
The Code Breaking efforts success yardstick is that it shortened the war by approximately 2 years.

2 years is a lot in manpower, lives and other things military - yet received little recognition (even secret recognition)... a disgusting military shame.

I busy watching DSTVs WW1 veterans and the stupidity of military, highlighted be the one soldier shot for desertion. He spent 3 years on the front and finally cracked and ran 'anywhere'. His court martial evidence was that 'Many times I didn't know what I was doing or where I was - I felt I was was a danger to myself and others and had to leave'.. they put him front of a firing squad, after 3 years on the front

05-16-09, 06:30 AM	#1
breadcatcher101 Captain Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southeastern USA Posts: 546 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	It's a shame about Joe Rochefort. Recieved no real credit for what he did towards the battle of Midway. There was a move to have him recieve an award but it was killed by the Washington Code Team as they felt they deserved the credit. Being somewhat bitter about the whole thing he requested sea duty only to be assigned to a floating dry dock, his only command. I don't think we would have done so well in the Midway Operation without his 6th sense, escecially his idea about finding out that the Japanese call sign for Midway was AF. My hat is off to him for his many hours cracking codes which allowed victory to be possible.

05-16-09, 07:40 AM	#2
rditto48801 Mate Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: In the middle of a giant mitten. Posts: 54 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	Was he the one that got mentioned in one of the WWII movies about midway, having sent a messenger to Midway to have them send a (false) report about water supply troubles, so they could monitor to see if intercepted Japanese messages made any mention of places having water troubles? __________________ Darn the speed, full torpedoes ahead! Run Silent, Run Deep, Run them Ragged, Let The Prey Not Sleep.

05-16-09, 09:22 AM	#5
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Yeah...it's a sad story. The only thing Joe was guilty of, if you can call it that, was not being as ambitious as some in the intelligence community who were more than happy to marginalize him to further their careers and bureaucratic territory. __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

05-16-09, 10:22 AM	#6
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,399 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	A sad story but not at all unusual. That is the nature of Intel. If you are looking for glory or recognition, you don't work Intel. The Intelligence profession is full of unrecognized heros. Most of them never reach the fame of Joe. We have a lot to be thankful for, knowing that there are people (past and current) quietly working the Intel issues knowing that they will never be recognized (unless something goes wrong). __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

05-16-09, 10:58 AM	#7
tomoose Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 930 Downloads: 23 Uploads: 0	Damn right. Platapus; amen brother. In the military intel and comms are two things generally taken for granted unless something goes badly wrong, then the finger pointing starts, LOL

05-16-09, 07:43 AM	#3
breadcatcher101 Captain Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southeastern USA Posts: 546 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Yes, that was him, stayed below and lived like a hermit working on cracking codes.

05-16-09, 01:28 PM	#8
PortsmouthProwler Bosun Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 65 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	Double Edged Secrets by Holmes (another US Navy intel officer) is an excellent source to read.

05-17-09, 11:40 AM	#9
vanjast Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somewhere else now Posts: 1,740 Downloads: 825 Uploads: 4	I think he challenged a few 'political' admirals, and proved them wrong. The Code Breaking efforts success yardstick is that it shortened the war by approximately 2 years. 2 years is a lot in manpower, lives and other things military - yet received little recognition (even secret recognition)... a disgusting military shame. I busy watching DSTVs WW1 veterans and the stupidity of military, highlighted be the one soldier shot for desertion. He spent 3 years on the front and finally cracked and ran 'anywhere'. His court martial evidence was that 'Many times I didn't know what I was doing or where I was - I felt I was was a danger to myself and others and had to leave'.. they put him front of a firing squad, after 3 years on the front