Prof. Greg Jackson

It's contrary to the captain's orders, but not knowing any better, he makes his way to the deck and plunges into the coral sea's waters.

Bill has no life vest.

His was stolen.

He even knows who stole it.

But that won't help him now as his fatigued arms start to give out.

Slowly, he decides that there's just no point.

He gives up.

Bill lets himself start to sink below the blue surface.

But as he comes up for a last desperate breath, the young fireman hears a voice call out.

Hold on, Bill.

Hold on.

I'll help you.

This unnamed savior lets Bill hold onto his life jacket until a boat in their damaged ship pulls them both from the waters to return them to the listing but still floating Neosho.

There, the survivors send out a distress call and wait.

It's the next day, May 8th, 1942.

Japanese and American scouts are both zipping through the skies over the Coral Sea.

As they do, the Neosho is still listing, and the Sims is at the bottom of the Pacific.

But so is the light Japanese aircraft carrier, Shoho.

She was sunk yesterday morning by aircraft from the carriers USS Yorktown and USS Lexington, blasted with upwards of seven torpedoes and at least a dozen bombs.

The sinking of the Shoho brought the invasion of Port Moresby to a pause, leading to this morning's situation, in which the Japanese and Americans alike are attempting to seek and destroy the other's carriers.