Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ceremony Aboard Mighty Mo Marks WWII 66th Anniversary
kitv.com ^ | 2 September 2011 | unattributed

Posted on 09/02/2011 10:41:41 PM PDT by smokingfrog

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- A ceremony held aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial remembers the historic day 66 years ago when Japan formally surrendered to the allied nations, ending World War II.

In the shadow of the Mighty Mo's guns, the patriotic ceremony spoke of war and peace.

It was on this day 66 years earlier that Gen. Douglas MacArthur and representatives from 10 nations assembled aboard the USS Missouri to accept Imperial Japan's formal, unconditional surrender, ending World War II.

Art Albert witnessed the surrender as a young sailor aboard the Missouri.

"Well, at 18 years old, all I could think about was no more GQ, but it was great," said Albert.

He and 20 other World War II veterans were the VIPs at the ceremony on Friday marking the anniversary.

Dr. Bruce Heilman was an 18-year-old marine, preparing for raids on Japan at the time of the surrender.

"We didn't think much else would happen other than we'd probably be dead in a few days. So really it was the mentality of us all," said Heilman, who now is also the national spokesman for The Greatest Generation Foundation.

Heilman, like other survivors, credit the surrender with sparing their lives and the ceremony honored those who served and died bravely.

(Excerpt) Read more at kitv.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Hawaii
KEYWORDS: japsurrender; macarthur; ussmissouri
Slideshow at link.

The Missouri was anchored in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, when it hosted Japanese leaders who signed surrender documents formally ending the war.

1 posted on 09/02/2011 10:41:49 PM PDT by smokingfrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Japan Surrenders

On September 2, 1945, the Japanese representatives signed the official Instrument of Surrender, prepared by the War Department and approved by President Truman. It set out in eight short paragraphs the complete capitulation of Japan. The opening words, "We, acting by command of and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan," signified the importance attached to the Emperor's role by the Americans who drafted the document. The short second paragraph went straight to the heart of the matter: "We hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and of all Japanese armed forces and all armed forces under Japanese control wherever situated."

That morning, on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay, the Japanese envoys Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and Gen. Yoshijiro Umezu signed their names on the Instrument of Surrender. The time was recorded as 4 minutes past 9 o'clock. Afterward, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Commander in the Southwest Pacific and Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, also signed. He accepted the Japanese surrender "for the United States, Republic of China, United Kingdom, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and in the interests of the other United Nations at war with Japan."

On September 6, Col. Bernard Thielen brought the surrender document and a second imperial rescript back to Washington, DC. The following day, Thielen presented the documents to President Truman in a formal White House ceremony. The documents were then exhibited at the National Archives after a dignified ceremony led by General Wainwright. Finally, on October 1, 1945, they were formally received (accessioned) into the holdings of the National Archives.

2 posted on 09/02/2011 10:46:21 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open ( <o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

My Dad was there. He was on the USS Mississippi which was also anchored in Tokyo Bay that day. He had such affection for that ship, that I think us kids knew how to spell M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I before we could spell Cat.


3 posted on 09/02/2011 11:13:44 PM PDT by NavyCanDo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

Cleaning teak decks is no fun the old fashioned way. We used acid in the 80s, and that was much easier. :-P


4 posted on 09/02/2011 11:21:07 PM PDT by Sporke (USS-Iowa BB-61)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

The pics of the signing ceremony are iconic. However, what are rarely shown at the pics, some including wide shots, of the entire US fleet at anchor in Tokyo Bay that day. I think it was over 1000 ships..if anyone can dig ‘em up and post it...they are truly spectacular..


5 posted on 09/03/2011 2:56:06 AM PDT by ken5050
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog
There are copies of the Instrument of Surrender available for viewing on Wikipedia at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrument_of_Surrender_of_Japan

There are also pictures of interest.

6 posted on 09/03/2011 3:26:54 AM PDT by Cheburashka (If found, please return this Ring of Power to Sauron, Lord of Darkness. Return postage guaranteed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ken5050

Here’s a list:
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq69-2.htm


7 posted on 09/03/2011 3:33:29 AM PDT by Repeal The 17th (Proud to be a small monthly donor.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

Newsreel footage of the surrender ceremony:

http://www.archive.org/details/September21945Newsreel-JapaneseSurrenderSigningOnMissouri


8 posted on 09/03/2011 4:00:38 AM PDT by Peter W. Kessler (Dirt is for racing... asphalt is for getting there.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sporke

Wife and walked those teak decks a year ago last spring. The original teak was harvested in Burma and obviously no longer available and, as a result the deck of the Missouri is in pretty rough shape. Our tour guide was a young former sailor who dispensed some interesting tidbits about the signing ceremony. Pearl Harbor is worth the expensive trip to Hawaii.


9 posted on 09/03/2011 4:47:14 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (I want a Triple A president for our Triple A country)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Peter W. Kessler
Thanks. I enjoyed watching that.

General Wainwright still looked pretty bad in that video.

Here is a picture of him just after he was rescued from the Japanese.


10 posted on 09/03/2011 8:01:02 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open ( <o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ken5050

11 posted on 09/03/2011 8:07:52 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open ( <o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

Sorry..I get the dreaded red “X” in the box..


12 posted on 09/03/2011 8:15:13 AM PDT by ken5050
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Eric in the Ozarks
By chance, did you get to see the USS Bowfin?....and of course, the markers for all the subs, and their crews, still on "eternal patrol."

Charlie Lockwood is one of the greatest strategic minds of WW II...and most have no idea of what he accomplished..and with so little resources..

13 posted on 09/03/2011 8:20:21 AM PDT by ken5050
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: ken5050

linky

http://ww2db.com/photo.php?list=sp&sp=dt&dt=19450902


14 posted on 09/03/2011 8:28:54 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open ( <o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

Thanky...


15 posted on 09/03/2011 8:53:18 AM PDT by ken5050
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: ken5050

Yes. We saw the Bowfin and the submarine memorial with all the stones listing those lost at sea. I had no idea there were so many.

We wanted to see the air museum and the Punch Bowl but ran out of time.


16 posted on 09/03/2011 9:11:20 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (I want a Triple A president for our Triple A country)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson