We remained with the fleet the next morning and the biggest event of the day was when we received 500 lbs. of coffee. After that run the night before only good strong coffee would do the trick.
We rejoined the force that night and started steaming south to refuel from the tankers. Des squadron 54 left during the day headed for the states as they passed they waved and cheered. They were flying their homeward bound pennants and many a man on board wished he was going with them.
On the night of August 10 at 2210 we received the word throughout the ship that the Japanese had surrendered. This was confirmed by radio Manila but so far the US hadn’t said anything.
When the word was passed everyone started cheering and all the men who were asleep were running around with only their skivvies on. Everyone was as happy as kids at their first X-mas. Everyone was really raising hell even though after 18 month out here and the lousy chow.
To top things off a buddy brought in a gallon of win e and everyone really mane a big hole in it. In fact we emptied it. Everyone was beside himself with joy.
On August 11 we found out the surrender report was false. However, we did not send strikes over while the states were considering the peace terms along with her allies.
We were still waiting the 12 and 13 of August. During this time we did nothing except cruise around waiting to see if the Japanese would accept the terms we had sent back to them. The last three days have been really quiet with one general alarm which turned out to be friendly. All day the 13th we sent strikes over and the few days of peace were over and once more we were back at war and giving the Japanese hell. We had been assigned to a special bombardment group so we are expecting to go in with the battle boats anytime now.
On the afternoon of August 14 we received word over the radio the Tokyo had accepted our terms of surrender and that they had already sent the surrender terms to Washington. So far no official word had been passed form U.S. so everyone was awaiting work form Washington. We also heard of the super forts raid on Japan. The largest since the war began. The super forts encountered no enemy planes and no AA fire. It sure sounded like the little Japanese have their fill of war.
Meanwhile the Russians have been pushing steadily in to Manchuria and generally kicking hell out of the Japanese.
Everyone has been listening to the radio all day but there is little joy among the crew and no celebration. They had already had their hopes built high on August 10 only to find they were still facing the grim reality of warfare and no signs of peace. This time everyone seems to have the same thought. Believe absolutely nothing until it is official.