LT. ENRIGHT: Another veteran’s story today from Michael McCoy of
Mayville, N.Y.: “Reading the article about Aviation Cadet Bennett
Penn brought to mind the memory of Lt. Robert Enright, U.S. Navy,
who died in a naval action battle on June 6, 1942.”
“I don’t know for sure, but it seems to me I remember my father
telling me it was the battle of Midway Island where six months
after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese intended to finish off, once and
for all, the remnants of what was left of our Pacific Fleet but
instead, after breaking their code and knowing they were coming,
our Navy laid a trap and gave them a hell of a fight, sinking five
of their aircraft carriers!
“They only had a total of seven overall in their entire fleet,
and our out-numbered U.S. Navy sank five of them in that one
engagement.
“That sea battle was credited as the turning point in the
Pacific Theater, causing the Japanese to shift from an aggressive
stance to a defensive one for the rest of the war. Exactly what Lt.
Enright’s role was I don’t know. If my father told me, I can’t
remember.
“However, it must have been very significant because the
monument to him in the upper reaches of St. Bernard Cemetery reads
that he showed ‘extreme courage under fire’ and to honor his memory
a new warship of the U.S. Navy would be named after him.
“Although, I am of no relation to the Enrights, both my late
father and mother, Peter and Dorothea McCoy, were friends of Mr.
Enright and honored his memory and sacrifice by showing us the
grave and telling about what a nice man he was in his youth.
“If I am incorrect with any facts of which naval action he died
in, I would sincerely appreciate if someone would make a
correction.”
THAT BOOK: Karyn Conlon of Oregon City, Ore., tells us how to
find that book, “Tiger at the Bar.” “Search the Internet for the
name of the book, or Charles J. Magiotti – there are lots of
references, and a list of libraries where the book can be
found.”
Meanwhile on this legendary local book, we were told recently
that the edition reprinted about 10 years ago is a condensed
version of the original.
