During the last few days landing parties on all the large ships have been drilling on the fantails. Admiral Halsey sent out an order that they would serve as temporary occupational troops in Japan as soon as the surrender became official. They are to go in on destroyers. During the day of August 14 we made several battleships and a carrier to pass mail and could see the bow training with full packs. I wished very much to be one of them but no men from destroyers will hit the beach.
We refueled and left the tankers late in the afternoon and headed north. We have been only a couple hundred miles off the mainland of Japan for the last week. The last few days have been spent in waiting and it is beginning to tell on the men. It’s the waiting that really gets them down.
Then on the morning of August 15 at 0801, 1945 we heard the official announcement that the war was over. Believe me everyone was really happy and at noon they hauled up the largest flag we had, a No 7, to the mainmast in addition to the one on the flag staff aft. Every ship in the task force hauled the largest flag they had, up as a victory flag and every where you could see old glory waving in the breeze proclaiming once more our democracy and how e fight to keep it so.
At 1200 we had a general alarm and manned our battle stations as enemy planes were coming in. Our Combat Air Patrol splashed 1 Judy and there were five others reported diving on the formation. They were polished off in true American fashion – fast and with little ceremony.
At 1500 they passed out shots of whiskey to all hands in the mess hall with the executive officer and the doctor acting as bar tenders. It really was good stuff and the first we had had in 18 months. It was also the first time in the Navy that I saw whiskey served on board a warship of Uncle Sam’s Navy.
So end another bloody 3 years 8 months and 7 days of war. Once more the world is at peace and still Old Glory proudly flies high in the sky – a symbol of freedom and democracy. Lets pray that all those who died did not die in vain. That this is the end of world strife, this brings the story to a hectic 18 months of warfare on the "Old T". Our final score was 7 Japanese planes shot down, three shore bombardments and 9 Japanese mines sunk by gunfire. Also 14 American pilots rescued. A fine record by a damn fine ship of Uncle Sam’s Navy……………