September 2, 1945

[blackhawknj]

V-J Day. At Chiller Theater some years ago I met Tony Curtis, he was about a mile from the Missouri during the signing.

 

[steveodtw]

I have a friend who passed away last year who was on the deck of the Missouri witnessing the Japanese surrender on that day. Earlier in the war he was a radioman/bombardier/gunner on TBF Avenger torpedo-bombers off the SS Hornet. The same Hornet that launched the Dolittle raid. Like most back then, he was just a kid. Greatest Generation!!

 

[Bob Wright]

Some years ago, while at the grocery store, I met a man who was a Navy veteran of WW II. He was on a destroyer, the name of which I've forgotten, but it was the first ship to enter Tokyo harbor for the fleet to enter for the surrender ceremonies. The destroyer was converted to a mine sweeper. The Japanese had furnished charts of their mine fields, but Adm. Nimitz had instructed the Navy not to rely on the Japanese charts and to clear the mine fields ourselves, lest there be some Japanese treachery at the last moment. As I recall it was a Sumter class destroyer. He told me he was a gunner on a 40mm gun mount and could claim at least one Japanese plane.

Bob Wright

 

[Bob Wright]

I remember that day vividly. I was much younger then, seventy five years ago! When my Dad came home and after supper, we went downtown. There had been so much paper and confetti thrown for the windows of office buildings that the street cars were unable to run as the tracks were covered. One building had those lighted crawler signs that proclaimed the news and everybody was just jubilant!

I cannot remember any other such event in which the whole city turned out and was joyful!


Bob Wright

 

[bogus bill]

My ex father in law was a sailor and said he was there and at a distance seen the signing. He claimed he was one of the first to get off his ship and walk the streets of Tokyo?? after the signing. He also told about before the signing how they were bombarding the coast and how they were shooting from a wide circle of ships to where it "looked" like there were more ships than there were by circling out of sight and coming in again.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

My Navy Daughter retook the Oath and was promoted from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander on The Surrender Deck and at the location the papers were signed on " The Mighty Mo". Wife was there but I was not able to make it.

 

[sfhogman]

Working at the San Francisco VA Medical Center for 30 years was a joy and a privilege.
I worked with and for many WWll vets and counted many of them as friends. Their stories ranged from the mundane to heroic to unbelievable. Although I am generally not a praying man, not a day went by that I didn't pray for one or another of them, or utter a prayer of thanks.

Jeff

 

[Jeepnik]

Some years ago, while at the grocery store, I met a man who was a Navy veteran of WW II. He was on a destroyer, the name of which I've forgotten, but it was the first ship to enter Tokyo harbor for the fleet to enter for the surrender ceremonies. The destroyer was converted to a mine sweeper. The Japanese had furnished charts of their mine fields, but Adm. Nimitz had instructed the Navy not to rely on the Japanese charts and to clear the mine fields ourselves, lest there be some Japanese treachery at the last moment. As I recall it was a Sumter class destroyer. He told me he was a gunner on a 40mm gun mount and could claim at least one Japanese plane.

Bob Wright

Of interesting note, Nimitz kept Spruance out of the harbor and away from the signing. He wanted someone he trusted to take over in the event of Japanese treachery.