Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Wood | 180925-N-KH214-0056 OAK HARBOR, Wash. (Sept. 25, 2018) A member of the Whidbey...... read more read more
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OAK HARBOR, Wash. (NNS) – Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island and Whidbey Association of Naval Aviation (ANA) hosted a 75th Ault Field naming anniversary in honor of the base’s namesake, Cmdr. William B. Ault, on Sep. 25 at NAS Whidbey Island.
Ault, who served in the Navy for more than 25 years, distinguished himself in World War II during the Battle of Coral Sea where he led an air attack that sunk the Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho.
Ault’s air attacks also damaged the fleet carrier Shokaku and his actions contributed toward the Navy’s victory in the world’s first major aircraft carrier battle.
Ault was lost at sea during the battle and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. On Sep. 25, 1943, the NAS Whidbey Island airfield was named Ault Field in memory of Cmdr. Ault.
The grandsons of Ault, William Ault II and Burr Ault, as well as their families, attended the anniversary which consisted of a luncheon and a private tour of NAS Whidbey Island including the air traffic control tower, an EA-18G Growler aircraft and a P-8 Poseidon aircraft.
“The luncheon was great,” said William Ault II. “It was great that the [commanding officer] came to speak, and it’s an honor to us that the [commadning officer] of the base took his time and came out here and sat at our table.”
Raised in a military family, Ault mentioned it was special to be able to see the base that was given the namesake of his grandfather, but the real pleasure was giving his kids the opportunity to see such a place.
“This is an opportunity for me to show them part of the world that I know and grew up with,” said Ault. “They’ve never had an opportunity to see and be part of it all.”
The tours of the base were particularly exciting for the family.
“The tours of the tower, the tour of the EA-18G, the tour of the P-8 - these were incredible,” said Ault. “Most people in the world don’t get an opportunity to go up into an air control tower during flight operations. The actual tours, getting to see these things that most don’t and having my kids get to do that; that was really special.”
At the luncheon, ANA presented the Ault family dedication plaques and Capt. Matt Arny, commanding officer of NAS Whidbey Island, read a personal letter from the Secretary of the Navy commemorating Cmdr. Ault’s service and sacrifice for the Navy.
Arny also spoke of Ault’s distinguished service and his continuing influence on the men and women who serve in the Navy and especially those stationed at his namesake, NAS Whidbey Island Ault Field.
“William Ault had an incredible life and career,” said Arny. “He really epitomized something that I tell my folks all the time and that is to serve proudly. He served proudly through his whole career and we’ve got a really good reason to proudly commemorate the naming of this field in his honor.”
| Date Taken: | 09.25.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2018 16:36 |
| Story ID: | 294457 |
| Location: | OAK HARBOR, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 265 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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