Today was major day in American history
This is VJ Day!

On this date in 1945, the Empire of Japan surrendered almost without conditions to the United States and our allied nations, ending World War II.



This is a photo of a souvenir surrender-attendance card (click image for large version).

These cards were designed by Chief Shipfitter Donald G. Droddy and produced by USS Missouri's print shop. One was issued to each man who was on board the ship on 2 September 1945, when the surrender of Japan was formalized on her decks. The cards contain the facsimile signatures of Captain Stuart S. Murray, ship's Commanding Officer, General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Admiral William F. Halsey.

Veterans of the war are elderly now, and are growing fewer literally every day. Of the 16 million men and women who wore the American armed forces's uniform during WW2, fewer than 5.5 million are still living.

For a history of the surrender ceremonies with many excellent photos, of which these are a sample, go to this site by the US Navy Historical Center.

Click on the images for large views:

Japanese representatives aboard USS Missouri (BB-63), Sept. 2, 1945:




General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander, reading his speech to open the surrender ceremonies:




General Yoshijiro Umezu, Chief of the Army General Staff, signs the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of Japanese Imperial General Headquarters:




Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, signs the Instrument of Surrender as United States Representative:




A formation of U.S. Navy carrier aircraft fly over part of the Third Fleet, at the end of World War II:



Thank you to all our veterans of this terrible war. You saved the world, none of you by yourselves, but you did save it, and we need to remember that.

by Donald Sensing, 9/2/2004 04:25:43 PM. Permalink |