To Perpetuate their stories....

[Bob Wright]

Tomorrow is September 2nd. On that day, September 2, 1945, the battleship USS Missouri, sailed into Tokyo Bay and anchored. Then, on her deck, the delegations met and signed the documents which formally closed World War II.

A few years back, I met a man who was wearing a cap indicating his service on a destroyer in WW II. We chatted and he told me his ship was to be the first ship to enter Tokyo Harbor. He was a gunner on a 40mm gun mount, and he said he had been credited with the destruction of at least two Japanese aircraft. Then his destroyer was converted to a minesweeper. The Japanese Navy had provided charts of the minefields in Tokyo Bay, but Admiral Nimitz was leery of using them and ordered minesweeping operations be done before US ships would enter the harbor. His destroyer/minesweeper was to be the first ship to begin that operation.

I tell this because the ones who lived these stories are a dying breed, and these stories need to be told and retold as long as the United States of America exists as a Nation under God.


Bob Wright

 

[GunnyGene]

Tomorrow is September 2nd. On that day, September 2, 1945, the battleship USS Missouri, sailed into Tokyo Bay and anchored. Then, on her deck, the delegations met and signed the documents which formally closed World War II.

A few years back, I met a man who was wearing a cap indicating his service on a destroyer in WW II. We chatted and he told me his ship was to be the first ship to enter Tokyo Harbor. He was a gunner on a 40mm gun mount, and he said he had been credited with the destruction of at least two Japanese aircraft. Then his destroyer was converted to a minesweeper. The Japanese Navy had provided charts of the minefields in Tokyo Bay, but Admiral Nimitz was leery of using them and ordered minesweeping operations be done before US ships would enter the harbor. His destroyer/minesweeper was to be the first ship to begin that operation.

I tell this because the ones who lived these stories are a dying breed, and these stories need to be told and retold as long as the United States of America exists as a Nation under God.


Bob Wright

In a related WWII honorable mention, my Father was a sailor on the USS Astoria from 1937 until she was sunk in the battle of Savo Island (Guadalcanal fight), where she rests on the bottom of Iron Bottom Sound. Dad survived that, and went on to escort convoys in the N. Atlantic on a destroyer. Some history of the Astoria. The Red Headers are links to more details within the below site.

Coincidentally, one of my Uncles on my mothers side of the family was fighting with the Marines on Guadalcanal at the time. He went on to fight in the invasion of Okinawa.

https://ussastoria.org/Home.php
Details of the Savo Island battle:

https://ussastoria.org/Iron_Bottom_Sound.html

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Flash forward a few years from 1945 to 2006. That was the year my Naval Aviator Daughter was promoted from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander and retook her oath. This took place on the Surrender Deck of "The Mighty Mo" in the exact same spot that the Surrender Papers were signed in 1945. They have a plaque imbedded into the deck at that location.
Daughter was involved in the Rim Pack Exercise flying the HM-53 Sea Dragon at the time but was able to get some free time.
My Wifie was there to pin on Daughter's Oak Leaves. I was not able to make it.

I have always wanted to tour the Mo but have not been in Hawaii since the Mo was there.
I did go on her sister ship The USS Wisconsin while in Norfolk. I have also been on the USS Alabama a couple of times. Both are GREAT ships.

 

[Jeepnik]

If you get out to SoCal stop by the USS Iowa. She’s the first of the last class of Battleships.

 

[RC44Mag]

great thread Bob. I had the pleasure of participating in gunnery exercises with New Jersey in Puerto Rico ( Vieques Island). To see those rounds from NJ from my ship hit the target island was a sight to behold. I was saddened to see all the Iowas taken from active duty.

 

[Danjet500]

My uncle was a radioman class 3 on board the USS Teton, AGC-14. His ship entered Tokyo Bay on August 29, 1945 and was there about 3 weeks. I have a number of keepsakes from his time aboard ship. He passed in 2008.
Bob, thanks for posting. We should remember these men and women and their stories and sacrifices.