September 2, 1945

[Bob Wright]

On this day in 1945, the American battleship USS Missouri was anchored in Tokyo Bay. Envoys from all the warring nations boarded her, and with General Douglas MacArthur presiding, the proceedings to sign the official surrender papers took place. This marked the end of World War II.

That night my Dad tokk us downtown (Memphis) where people were cheering, shouting, singng and praisong God. A tremendous burden had been lifted from our shoulders. That put an end to the dread that some family member might be called up to serve, amybe to give his life.

I remember that there was a lighted crawler sign proclaiming the end of the war, and paper thrown from upper floor office windows clogged the street car tracks so that streetcars could not run for a time.

It was a tme of jpy, the like of which I have not seen since.

Bob Wright

 

[dannyd]

The first thing the sailor's learned in WW2 was to throw anything flammable over the side that was not needed because of risk of fire or explosion.

So, when the Missouri and the other ships headed for Tokyo Bay the biggest problem the Navy had was finding paint to clean them up for the ceremony.

 

[wheelgun1958]

There was a member of my church onboard the Pilotfish (SS386) on that day.

 

[Jeepnik]

Sad though to think how later vets were treated. Korean vet we treated as if they didn’t exist. Vietnam vets were treated with derision and outright hate.

 

[DeletedMember275]

My father was sitting on Okinawa, doubtless happy that the planned invasion of Japan would not occur.

 

[flyrod40]

Dad was on the Delta AR9 anchored pretty close to the Missouri. He was a CMM in the ETO and then his ship was moved to the Pacific and at some point after the surrender he was assigned shore patrol duties. Came home 12/45. RIP Dad and Mom.

 

[dannyd]

On September 2, 1945 the Navy had about 6700 ships, September 2, 2023 the has about 350 ships.

 

[vito]

We won WWII the only way that a war is really won, by demanding and getting unconditional surrender and then occupying the losing country until such time as a new and more acceptable government was set up. Many did not care of McArther and his self aggrandisement but he was a true genuis as well as a great military leader. By sparing the Emperor, and creating the myth that the Emperor was sort of a figurehead and not responsible for any of the atrocities committed by the Japanese, he ensured that the Japanese people would tolerate American victory without then resorting to an endless guerilla resistance. Of course the Emperor was responsible, but lying about that was the lesser evil.

It such a policy had been followed by the U.S., England and France at the conclusion of WWI, possibly WWII would not have ever occurred in Europe. But we left Germany impoverished but basically free to struggle and then turn to the Naziis for their salvation.

 

[Jeepnik]

It such a policy had been followed by the U.S., England and France at the conclusion of WWI, possibly WWII would not have ever occurred in Europe. But we left Germany impoverished but basically free to struggle and then turn to the Naziis for their salvation.

You mean it wasn’t a good idea to leave Sadam in power after the first gulf war? Who’d have thought.

The problem is that civilians who often times have never served are the ones making the peace after the military looses a significant number of lives winning it.

Just watched Starship Troopers. In it to become a citizen one must serve. I won’t go that far, but to hold elected or appointed office mandatory service would be a good idea.

 

[Danjet500]

My uncle was on the USS Teton in Tokyo Bay that day. One of his proudest moments.

 

[Watertender]

I used to do some repair work for a doctor who was an Electrician's Mate 2nd Class on the USS Missouri at the time of the Japanese surrender. He had pictures of the event and told me that he strung lights for the event. After the war he went to chiropractic college on the GI bill and was a chiropractor for many years

 

[Wyandot Jim]

My Daughter was promoted from LT. to LT Commander and retook the Oath on the surender spot on The Mighty Mo. Wife was there with her and pinned on the Oak Leafs.

 

[vlavalle]

We won WWII the only way that a war is really won, by demanding and getting unconditional surrender and then occupying the losing country until such time as a new and more acceptable government was set up. Many did not care of McArther and his self aggrandisement but he was a true genuis as well as a great military leader. By sparing the Emperor, and creating the myth that the Emperor was sort of a figurehead and not responsible for any of the atrocities committed by the Japanese, he ensured that the Japanese people would tolerate American victory without then resorting to an endless guerilla resistance. Of course the Emperor was responsible, but lying about that was the lesser evil.

It such a policy had been followed by the U.S., England and France at the conclusion of WWI, possibly WWII would not have ever occurred in Europe. But we left Germany impoverished but basically free to struggle and then turn to the Naziis for their salvation.

MacArthur did not make the decision to make the Emperor of Japan look like a regular person and that him to report to himself. That decision was by the President and his Chief of Staff personnel. MacArthur was pretty bad during WW II with his huge ego and demanding the retaking of the Philippines, which costs hundreds of thousands of lives needlessly. The recapture of the Philippines had little or nothing to do with defeating Japan.

But he did an absolutely great job rehabilitating Japan after the war. He gets great kudos for that!

 

[Bob Wright]

I don't know any of the inside details of who did what when. But I do know that every soldier I met who served under him had the gretest respect for the General.

Bob Wright

 

[vlavalle]

I don't know any of the inside details of who did what when. But I do know that every soldier I met who served under him had the gretest respect for the General.

Bob Wright

I understand that the men liked him, because he gave the impression that he was real concerned for them, but in reality, he was just after satisfying his ego, and was totally freaked out getting kicked out of the Philippines, and had to make amends and to save his reputation - "I shall Return'. While he professed to take care of and be concerbed for his troops, here are the real numbers, which shows otherwise: (1) US Army deaths during Philippine campaign - 16,233, (2) US Marine death during the Battle of Peleliu (a specific requirement for attacking the Philippines)- 2,143, (3) Japanese at Peleliu - 12,033, (4) Japanese during Philippine campaign - 420,000, (5) US Navy personnel killed duting the Battle of the Philippines - 4,026. It is also estimated that 1 million Phil;ippinos died during this campiagn as well. Now, if you know much about the war, all of this was not necessary at all to defeat the Japanese. The Central Pacific campaigns, along with the B-29 bombers, along with the very effective US submarine force sinking most of Japans supply tankers won the war. So, what the men thought of him is not a way to measure how good or effective a general is.

 

[dannyd]

MacArthur did not make the decision to make the Emperor of Japan look like a regular person and that him to report to himself. That decision was by the President and his Chief of Staff personnel. MacArthur was pretty bad during WW II with his huge ego and demanding the retaking of the Philippines, which costs hundreds of thousands of lives needlessly. The recapture of the Philippines had little or nothing to do with defeating Japan.

But he did an absolutely great job rehabilitating Japan after the war. He gets great kudos for that!

You have read your history, General MacArthur was in charge of 5th largest command in World War 2, he retired the first time in 1935 and should have stayed retired except for the rehab of Japan.

 

[Jeepnik]

MacArthur did not make the decision to make the Emperor of Japan look like a regular person and that him to report to himself. That decision was by the President and his Chief of Staff personnel. MacArthur was pretty bad during WW II with his huge ego and demanding the retaking of the Philippines, which costs hundreds of thousands of lives needlessly. The recapture of the Philippines had little or nothing to do with defeating Japan.

But he did an absolutely great job rehabilitating Japan after the war. He gets great kudos for that!

Ask the residents of the Philippines if they would liked to have had the Japanese occupy their islands until the end of the war or have the atrocities ended by General MacArthur’s retaking if the islands.

Of course, the Japanese still won’t admit to things like Nanking or what they did to Korea.

 

[dannyd]

I don't know any of the inside details of who did what when. But I do know that every soldier I met who served under him had the gretest respect for the General.

Bob Wright

Unfortunately the General had great P.R., but a dark side like having a mistress living in D.C. and having to pay hush money because of it.

General MacArthur also ordered the Regular Army to attack the Bonus Army in 1932, then tired to blame President Hoover after that action went south.

 

[dannyd]

Ask the residents of the Philippines if they would liked to have had the Japanese occupy their islands until the end of the war or have the atrocities ended by General MacArthur’s retaking if the islands.

Of course, the Japanese still won’t admit to things like Nanking or what they did to Korea.

That not the point, the General and FDR put a political agenda before the lives of the American Troops.

 

[Jeepnik]

That not the point, the General and FDR put a political agenda before the lives of the American Troops.

Or they put relatively helpless civilian lives above soldiers lives. Sitting here over 70 years later it’s easy to pick apart the decisions made by others.

But I’ll play. What if the US had put a higher emphasis on the Pacific war and allowed the Germans more time to develop their atomic weapons. Or what if Hitler hadn’t attacked Russia. Or, what if the German research into atomic weapons had made it to Japan, surely the kind hearted Japanese wouldn’t have nuked every thing in sight. We can go on and on what iffing. What happened is what happened.

Heck, my dad was in the Third Army. He didn’t care much for Patton. But if Eisenhower had given him the fuel and supplies Patton may well ended the war in Europe in 1944.

 

[Bob Wright]

As an additional note regarding September 2nd, not too long ago I talked to a veteran who told me he was on the first US ship to enter Tokyo Bay. He was a gunner on a 40mm gun mount on a destroyer, and his ship had been converted to a mine sweeper. They were ordered to clear the bay of any possible mines before the peace delegation ships entered. The Japanese had given the US their mine charts, but Adm. Nimitz wanted US mine clearing operations just to be sure it was not a Japanes ploy to furnish false charts.

He also told me he had been credited with the downing of two Japanese aircraft as a gunner.

Bob Wright

 

[bocash3]

My father, William "Bill" Corson Cash was a telegraph operator on the USS Essex and good at his skill.
He was one of several that telegraphed the surrender around the world on that day.
Dad lied about his age and went into the Navy at 17 1/2 years old. His brother Frank was killed while piloting a B-24. Frank's tombstone slab has a carving of a B-24 on it. His other brother Paul was shot down twice while piloting another B-24...........and survived. Some of his crew did not. "Uncle Paul" also has a B-24 carved into his headstone.

Bless the Greatest Americans!!

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8275453/william-corson-cash
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8275443/frank-summers-cash
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114309792/paul-spencer-cash

 

[dannyd]

Or they put relatively helpless civilian lives above soldiers lives. Sitting here over 70 years later it’s easy to pick apart the decisions made by others.

But I’ll play. What if the US had put a higher emphasis on the Pacific war and allowed the Germans more time to develop their atomic weapons. Or what if Hitler hadn’t attacked Russia. Or, what if the German research into atomic weapons had made it to Japan, surely the kind hearted Japanese wouldn’t have nuked every thing in sight. We can go on and on what iffing. What happened is what happened.

Heck, my dad was in the Third Army. He didn’t care much for Patton. But if Eisenhower had given him the fuel and supplies Patton may well ended the war in Europe in 1944.

Cousin George could not have ended the War "That's a Myth".

Have you ever read the day to day history of the Third Army. Cousin George was definitely more myth than fact.

Because of the "Myths" we as a Country get into Trouble, with all the conflicts from 1946 till today.

The Admirals and Generals knew that taking the Philippines was politically motivated in 1944, but they didn't have to worry about being in the first wave.

 

[vlavalle]

You have read your history, General MacArthur was in charge of 5th largest command in World War 2, he retired the first time in 1935 and should have stayed retired except for the rehab of Japan.

Totally agree!

 

[vlavalle]

Or they put relatively helpless civilian lives above soldiers lives. Sitting here over 70 years later it’s easy to pick apart the decisions made by others.

But I’ll play. What if the US had put a higher emphasis on the Pacific war and allowed the Germans more time to develop their atomic weapons. Or what if Hitler hadn’t attacked Russia. Or, what if the German research into atomic weapons had made it to Japan, surely the kind hearted Japanese wouldn’t have nuked every thing in sight. We can go on and on what iffing. What happened is what happened.

Heck, my dad was in the Third Army. He didn’t care much for Patton. But if Eisenhower had given him the fuel and supplies Patton may well ended the war in Europe in 1944.

Patton probably would have, but it would have required Eisenhower to support him all the way. Monty was a joke, and did not know how to fight the Germans until about March of 1945. But he had Eisenhower's ear most of the time, so I am not sure he would have supported Patton as much as Patton would have needed to end the war months earlier.

 

[g5m]

A friend of mine was on MacArthur's Staff. An interesting fellow. We didn't talk about MacArthur, unfortunately, but, he is the only person I have ever talked to who had personally attended one of Hitler's speeches. He was a student in France prior to WW2 and he and another student decided to go hear Hitler one day. He said it was amazing in that Hitler literally mesmerized people within 5 minutes.

 

[dannyd]

In the European Theater of Operations these numbers mattered more than anything else. Only 14% of the U.S. Army in Europe was in the Infantry, but they suffered 77% of the casualties. For every casualty you have to replace them and we were running out of people.

Eddie Slovik the last person shot for desertion, was 4-F (you can't be drafted) in 1942, but because of the man power shortage by 1944 he was classified 1-A, assigned to the 28 Infantry Division.

In 1944 the 106th Infantry Division personal came from guy's doing desk jobs in the States, the Army was combing every base for men and if you fit that description, you were in the Infantry.

The 106th was one of the first infantry division to meet the Germans during the battle of Bulge, they fell apart having over 6,000 men surrender.

If you grandfather was in World War 1 and or born after 1878, he had to register for the draft again in 1942. The guy's from WW1 were not very happy with that.