Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Commander Joe Rochefort broke Japanese communication codes. Stationed at an intelligence base in Oahu, he predicted the Japanese would attack Midway on June 3, 1942, which they did. Because of Rochefort's expertise, the United States surprised the Japanese Navy with its first defeat in 350 years. Japan lost four carriers, one cruiser, 2500 men, 322 aircraft, and their best pilots. Due to this crippling defeat, Japan eventually lost the war.

Surprisingly, Rochefort never received recognition for his efforts. Instead, some intelligence men in Washington, D.C., falsified reports and claimed credit, even though they had predicted a June 10 date of attack. Washington sealed the records for 40 years, and Rochefort was never properly rewarded. In fact, he was actually removed from intelligence and assigned to a floating dry dock in San Francisco.

In their book Deceit at Pearl Harbor, Lt. Cmdr. Ken Landis (ret.), Staff Sgt. Rex Gunn, (ret.), and Msgt. Robert Andrade (ret.) tell about a note Rochefort kept on his desk: "WE CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING PROVIDING NO ONE CARES WHO GETS THE CREDIT." The authors write, "That was the attitude that won the battle of Midway."