"torpedo 8" did not get a chance to practice its trade, however, until nearly 10 months after it had been commissioned at norfolk. too late to take part in the battle of the coral sea, vt-8 would receive its brutal baptism of fire at the turning point of the pacific war—the battle of midway. in the days preceding that battle, vt-8 led a relaxed existence on board the carrier as she steamed toward "point luck" from pearl harbor in the first few days of june 1942. finally, on the eve of battle, commander waldron called his men together and distributed a mimeographed plan of attack. he concluded by saying that if worst came to worst, he wanted each man to do his utmost to destroy the enemy. "if there is only one plane left to make a final run-in," he told his men, "i want that man to go in and get a hit. may god be with us all. good luck, happy landings, and give 'em hell."