Serving as a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber pilot with Scouting Squadron 6 (VS-6) based on the aircraft carrier , Lieutenant Ware and his division of six SBDs attacked the carrier "Kaga" on 4 June 1942, one of four Japanese carriers sunk in the Battle of Midway. During their return to the "Enterprise" they successfully fought off attacks by Japanese fighters, but ran out of fuel and were forced to ditch. One crew was rescued and another crew was picked up by a Japanese destroyer and later executed. Ware and the other SBD crewmen were reported missing in action. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.