The most remote place in America: Midway Atoll

Midway atoll is a ring of small volcanic islands 1,300 miles West of Hawaii. It has served over it's lifetime as a whaling camp, luxury hotel, and military base.

Corrections:
1. The plane at 2:07 is a Boeing, not a Martin M-130 as stated. The China Clipper planes were Martin M-130s.
2. ˌärkəˈpeləˌɡō and atˌôl pronunciation
3. People have mentioned the aircraft carrier was anachronistic.

Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental:

Additional Sources / Further Reading:

[howardmiller]

I visited Midway in 1968 as a member of the US Air Force. It was the height of its occupancy. The water in tye lagoons were crystal clear, the beaches beautiful sand. Those 90 days I was there are stll so clear, even 50+ years gone.

[giantcyclist]

My family lived on Midway for a year when my dad was stationed there in the Navy in 1955/56. I still remember Christmas there and the 4th of July. The Navy would bring in Christmas trees but due to space on the ships or planes none of the trees were over 3 feet. For the 4th the Marines stationed there would put on a show using tracers in their machine guns and firing illumination rounds from their mortars. I even learned to swim there when I was 5/6 years old.

[rogerheins]

I was stationed there in 1984. I would live there forever if I could.

[Willybean]

I lived here for 2 years when my parents worked for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife service 2014-2016

Edit: I have to answer questions it's been a year sorry y'all.
1. I can't say who my parents are.
2. I never went fishing.
3. We don't have a Walmart, shipments come in via plane and goes either to the general store or to people homes.
4. I don't remember anyone named Purvis.
5. We had satellite internet. Wasn't fast. We didn't have any access to TV or Cable, but you could access it through paid subscriptions online.
6. It is very covered in plastic. I remember at school we went to the beach to help clean up, but the next day it was littered again. There are a few beaches that aren't bad though.
7. For fun we had a bar and gift shop but I just spent a lot of time playing outside with other kids, I mean I was 8-10 years old and there wasn't a chuck e cheese.

[charleshayslip]

After reading a good many of the comments, I just had to pitch in with my experience. As a navy shipman during the early Vietnam years, 58-61, when it wasn't overly known that the US was involved that early on, We used to visit Midway about every 2-3 weeks to load ammo. I haven't seen any comment on the fact that Midway was a military ammo dump. However, my ship, the U.S.S. Mansfeild DD 728, was assigned as a patrol ship in the straits just off of Vietnam, and we were always in position
to give backup firepower to the troops on the battlefield in Vietnam. As I recall there was nothing else on the atoll but gooney birds . Goofey ass gooney birds. In order to smoke a cig we had to go as far from the ammo storage as possible to lite up.
Which was exactly where the majority of the gooney birds congregated. Enjoyed messing with the birds but had to be wary of the long beak and the sharp tip at the end. Not too friendly a bird. I'm 82 years of age and if anyone is out there that can recall these memories, post a reply.

[tomservo]

Midway was basically an unsinkable aircraft carrier for the US and a thorn in the side of the IJN. This pile of volcanic rock became THE most important strategic island in the world and is now fittingly quiet.

[cnevada]

I was stationed there for the year of 1964 as the Pharmacist Mate at the hospital. The memories I still have are of good times. Someone mentioned the bowling alley and used it a lot. During my time, I volunteered for two week temporary duty out on Kure Island, which is even more remote than Midway. It was a Coast Guard Loran station, and that was even better duty. For me, daily attire was T shirt, shorts and flip flops. Back to Midway. The big event in 1964 was a tsunami warning when the Alaska earthquake hit. All personnel assembled in Officer Country, all of 10 feet above sea level. The Gooney birds were great entertainment, mostly when they returned after 7 years at sea. They would put there legs out like they were landing on water and when they touched down they bowled over and rolled for several feet. They'd get up and shake themselves off, look around like "what just happened."
Just good memories of Midway.

[whistlingsage]

This video has some of the most interesting comments I've seen on YouTube. The recollections from the people who visited or were stationed on Midway Island are wonderful to read. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their memories.

I visited Midway in 1998. Old barracks was converted to a "hotel" run by a concession granted by US Dept of Interior. Two flights per week from Honolulu in those days. There was a French chef for dinners... Incredible fresh fish menus. Other meals were shared in mess hall with workers and volunteers. Workers were largely Sri Lankan and Philippine nationals hired by Fish & Wildlife Svc to reclaim native habitats. Volunteers included Cousteau Society members. Tourists included deep-sea fishing enthusiasts, scuba enthusiasts, bird-watching enthusiasts, and WWII buffs. We were honeymooning. We hiked, played tennis, golf, snorkeled with crazy varieties of fish in approx 8-ft depth for miles inside atoll at east end of Sand Is., swam with dolphins, and enjoyed 1000-yd private white-sand beach for four days. Laysan albatross, white "fairy" terns, frigate birds (white- and red-tailed), petrels aplenty. Incredible trip & amazing history.

[chrissmith]

Midway is key to trans-pacific air travel. It’s a diversion airport for ETOPS flights and due to this there are a few people stationed there to keep the airfield in working order and be ready in case a commercial flight has to divert there. It happens more often than you’d think.

[tpj]

I lived there from 1970-1974. I was a kid at the time. Great place for kids!

[himat]

As part of the memorable 50th Pan AM anniversary flight, PanAm 50, we landed on Midway, a B-747-100, not often flying into the base. In 1985 there were less than 100 people stationed there but they prepared a banquet of sorts, on the tarmac, had the best apple pie ever there. Then took a walk around the island, saw the Japanese graveyard. When it was time to take off, we couldn't. Turns out there were hundred of gooney birds resting on the runway. Navy came out in pickup trucks, and put the birds in the trucks and drove them to the beach. We then took off on our way to Wake, Guam and Manilla. Unforgettable journey. Lucky to be part of it

[m.entera]

I was on Midway Atoll in 1969 when a passenger on our Boeing 707 flight to Japan had a heart attack, and Midway was the only place in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean that had a teeny military medical facility with a doctor. The runway was barely long enough to accommodate a Boeing 707 and we had to prepare for crashlanding with our heads in pillows on our laps.

[motivepower]

My dad was a radar operator on the EC-121 planes stationed on Midway Island many years ago, and I recently found his Navy slides of Midway Island after his passing.

[-iv]

I spent a few days there in the mid 70's when I was in the Coast Guard. I enjoyed the time on that island immensely. Incredibly peaceful.

[redrubberball]

In 1967, my ship (Navy destroyer from Mayport, FL) stopped to refuel at Midway, while going to and from Vietnam.

[tenniesmotherman]

I also lived on Midway as a child in 1970-1972. I remember Rusty Bucket where all the old wreckage was gathered on the island. I also went to George Gannon School for 4th and 5th grade. My dad was a Chief air control man. I loved going beachcombing with my dad looking for fish balls. I remember playing softball there as well. We use to go to the NCO club and watch movies at night. Wish I could go back and visit again.

[karltilgner]

Great review of Midway Island, I worked on Midway for two years in the 1990's doing the environmental cleanup of leaked fuel that had accumulated under the sand of the island. We removed the old military fuel farm and many other hazards as well. It is a beautiful place. When I was there it still had 3 holes of the 9 hole golf course still playable and we fished and dove when we had time off.

[dairyman]

Our f18 fighter jet broke down and we had to divert to midway to fix the issues. 2014 for me. Such a beautiful place with beautiful water!

[Lrose]

I did a fueling layover on Midway in 1974. I was on my way to Japan as part of the deployment of VP-48 a squadron of P-3 Orions that were Sub hunters. The island was stunning. I did a walk around the entire island with my crew. We swam in the clear blue waters and totally love it there. One thing you did not mention is that during that time the island was also home to thousands of parakeets. They were everywhere and seemed to be thriving. I would go there again if I could.