Ensign William Esders

Veteran, Midway, Guadalcanal, other Pacific battles

Awarded the Navy Cross

Bill Esders, one of the handful of survivors of the three torpedo squadrons that fought at Midway, continued to fly torpedo planes through the rest of the war. After his active duty service in the navy, he retired to Pensacola, Florida, where he served as a volunteer guide at the naval history museum.

When Swede Larsen visited the museum in 1980, Bill Esders was surprised to see that his former commanding officer was in a wheelchair. Personally committed to remaining in good physical condition, Bill Esders ran every day regardless of the weather.

During a morning run in 1995, he collapsed and died of a heart attack.