General Douglas MacArthur speaks to a small assembly aboard the battleship USS Missouri September 2, 1945. Those assembled included members of the Allied Armies and the surrendering hierarchy of the Imperial Japanese Army. Personal photo courtesy of Attorney Billy Oswald.
Victory over Japan Day, better known today as VJ Day. VJ Day came about in 1945 and used to be known by most everyone. Today only veterans and history students seem to know or remember anything about the hard fought and won victory over the fierce Japanese soldiers under command of Tojo and Emperor Hirohito. I’ve known many US Navy veterans of WWII who fought the Japanese throughout the Pacific on various US Navy vessels and they have all agreed the fighting was fierce.
One veteran friend, Cliff Eckstrom, who has now passed to his reward, could not hear out of his left ear due to a gun turret firing a round at a far off target while fighting against the Japanese Navy. Another WWII friend told me of a Japanese suicide bomber landing on his ship in an attempt to destroy ship and crew. Another told of being rescued after floating several days at sea after their ship was sunk. Heroes all.
Hats off to our US veterans and heroes who sacrificed life and limb to gain victory over an aggressor who sucker punched Americans in the belly at Pearl Harbor. These men as part of what’s called the “Greatest Generation” helped avenge the 2,403 American deaths that resulted from that attack on Pearl Harbor.
In the lead photo, aboard “Mighty Mo” the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay the unconditional surrender was signed between Japan, the US and our Allies. General Douglas MacArthur is shown here in an original photograph taken by West Columbia attorney Billy Oswald’s father, a WWII vet, onboard the Missouri the day the event took place.
MacArthur had promised to “return” and that he did with vengeance and help from a few friends from the US Army, Navy and Marines.
Today, 78 years later we are thankful for the fighting men of the US Army, Navy, Marines and “friends” who helped slap some sense into those who thought they could sneak into Pearl Harbor and get away with their treachery. Multiple thousands gave the last full measure gaining ground throughout the Pacific that would lead to ultimate victory and the day pictured.
The “American Caesar” MacArthur was the ultimate no nonsense American military leader in the Pacific, General George S. Patton was his counterpart in Europe. This day belonged to MacArthur and all the American heroes who laid out in no uncertain terms what was expected of the Japanese for an unconditional surrender.
MacArthur and the United States fighting men were fierce no-nonsense warriors. These are the type men who win wars and rescue countries being destroyed from within. Oh that they would stand today in our nation’s greatest need.
Michael Reed is Publisher of The Standard newspaper, print and online. You may find our videos available on Rumble. The bulk of TheStandardSC video media channel has been censored by dominant social media groups like YouTube. YouTube, owed by Alphabet (Google), removed and destroyed all of our video work without permission or remuneration. That has stopped all potential donations from our many supporters on that venue. If you want to continue to see independent thought and reports please “like”, comment, share with a friend, and donate to support The Standard on this page to assure the continued availability of news that is ignored too often by the dominant media.
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