Tuhia he tomokanga mo tenei whitianga - I muri i te urunga mai o te United States ki te Pakanga Tuarua o te Ao, i uru a O'Neil ki te tiaki i te atoll ki te whakaeke a Iapani pea, i puta mai i waenga i te Hune 4 ki te 7, 1942. Mo tana wāhi i te pakanga o Midway
, I whakawhiwhia a O'Neil ki te Tohu Whetu Parahi me te "V" Whawhai. I whakatairangahia hoki ia ki te taumata mo te wa poto o te rangatira rangatira i te Akuhata 7, 1942.