Seventy Years Ago . . . .
. . . shortly after noon, Japanese Standard Time, the Emperor of Japan by radio announced Japan’s acceptance of Allied demands for an unconditional surrender.
The official acceptance ceremony for the Japanese surrender – which formally ended World War II – occurred 18 days later, on 2 September 1945.
While today doesn’t mark the formal end of World War II, it does mark the substantive end of most hostilities. So it’s IMO worth remembering.
Thanks Dad, Uncle Stan, Uncle Joe, Uncle Bill, and Uncle Norb. Though only one of you is still here in body, I’m reasonably sure you’re all here today in spirit.
Category: Historical, We Remember
My thanks go out to:
Paternal Side: Dad, Uncles Chet, Bud and Cal.
Maternal Side: Uncles Jess, Buck, Babe, and Mel.
All are here in spirit only.
Quick update:
All men referenced above were Army.
Maternal side Uncles were all Great Uncles to me.
I should have added my Father-in-Law Frank.
He was an Able Seaman/Gunner’s Mate (44-45) on the USS Idaho.
My dad served the longest of all of them: April 1941 to November 1945.
My Uncle Bud was a POW (captured in Tunisia) from Feb 1943 to June 1945.
Again, a most heartfelt Thank You goes out to these Gentlemen.
to all my aunts and uncles and my grandpas on moms and dads side
YOU ALL ROCKD AND KICKED SOME ASS ON TWO FRONTS
THAT IS INCREDIBLE YOU GUYS AND GALS BUILT ROADS WELL CRAP YOU DID EVERY THING IM SORRY THESE OTHER GENERATIONS SUCK LIKE ASS AND BEHAVE LIKE PUSSYS SOME OF US ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING HO HOHO I FORGOT I WAS BORN ON THIS AWSOME DAY THANK YOU LOARD FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHOW UP A FEW DAYS EARLIER AND NOT ON TIME. AND LAST OFF A BIG
HOOOOOOOAAHHHHHHH———to THE GREATEST GENERATION
I’m on my melds sorry I’ll write better tomorrow
My thanks to:
Grandpa–USN Gunner’s Mate, Naval Armed Guard detachment, SS Richard J. Gatling (also other ships, but finished the war on the Gatling)
(Great) Uncle Ollie–USAAF ground crewman, 97th Bombardment Group, Heavy
(Great) Uncle Jim–US Army infantry rifleman, 3rd Army under Patton
(Great) Uncle Trevor–US Army logistics guy, spent the war in Hawaii (lucky SOB) but worked his ass off to make sure ammo, parts, and fuel went where they were needed…preferably up Tojo’s ass
Grandma–an All-American “Rosie the Riveter” from Queens NYC who made naval gunnery rangefinders at a Bendix plant in New York
And all the men and women who served or worked to supply them.
My sincere thanks and gratitude to:
Grandpa Holman – Middle East Theater, Army
Great Uncle Doc – Pacific Theater, Army
Uncle Billy & Uncle Phil – European Theater, Army Air Corps
Father-in-Law Bill Henderson, 82nd Airborne
They don’t make ’em like you guys anymore. Truly The Greatest Generation.
…Thanks to my Uncle Jack (Norbert F. Kozlowski):
– Merchant Marine 40-42, including a tanker shot out from under him in the Med
– USS Ranger (CV-4) 42-45, including Operation TORCH, raids against the Germans in Norway, and finally as the night fighter training carrier in the Pacific.
Mike
My father was sitting in Leghorn, Italy waiting to go the Pacific. He had been in Africa and Europe since November 1942.
I am sure he was one happy camper this time 70 years ago.
RIP Dad…and thanks.
A little bit about Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, who took the place of a fellow Polish prisoner at Auschwitz.
He built a monastery on the side of the mountain facing away from Nagasaki. When the bomb was dropped, the monastery did not receive the blast.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_Kolbe
He went through Hell. Honor him.