This day 61 years ago my ship, The USS Trnquillity loaded the survivors of the USS Indianapolis at Paleleu island for transport to Guam.
The Indianapolis had delivered the bomb to Tinian island for the delivery to Hiroshima.
This day marks the real end to the Pacific war.
Too bad it took another one for the Japanese to realize it.
My three years in Guam was a cake walk compared to what the sailors, soldiers, and Marines of WW II had to go though. When ever one of the younger guys was complaining how hot it was there I just simply reminded them that it would be a lot more tough on us if we had to lug around 40 or 50 pounds of weapons and gear and had finatical Japaneese trying to kill us from every hole in the ground.
The devestation we had to inflict on the Pacific Islands had to be so severe for even a few of the Japenesse to surrender and many chose suicide instead, thier brainwashing was very complete. It would have took nothing less than what we did to secure peace.
Thanks for picking those guys out of the water!