phnightcelebratio

On the night that peace was declared, the entire harbor lit up with flares and lights in a joyous celebration!

“By the end of the war, I had become used to having spent most of my childhood surrounded by the sights and sounds, the comings and goings of troops, and the headlines of war

“One of those headlines caused great confusion and concern in my family and many others. It told about something called the atomic bomb, and how it had been exploded in Japan and had wiped out a city, killing many people. We wondered how a single bomb could do so much damage. Radio newscasts also told the gruesome details of the enormous devastation that resulted. And then President Harry S. Truman made a radio broadcast to explain the American action.

“He said, ‘I realize the tragic significance of the atomic bomb… Having found the bomb we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor… We shall continue to use it until we completely destroy Japan’s power to make war. Only a Japanese surrender will stop us.

“Shortly thereafter came the Japanese surrender. When President Truman gave the announcement, the release from the tension of all the war years was electrifying, and our concern over the terrible bomb was put aside as the entire world sighed with relief at the prospect of peace

“The high emotions were replaced by a feeling of solemnity for the signing that ended World War II, on September 2, 1945, shortly after 9:00 a.m. The formal ceremony took place in Tokyo Bay, aboard the battleship USS Missouri, as our B-29 bombers circled watchfully overhead. General Douglas MacArthur presided over the ceremony on the great ship’s deck, flanked by Admirals Halsey and Nimitz, plus many others. Foreign Minister Shigemitsu and General Umezu signed for the Japanese delegation. Admiral Nimitz signed for the United States, and General MacArthur signed as the Supreme Allied Commander.

“The years of war were ended by a few marks on paper!

When MacArthur accepted the surrender documents, he said, “Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world, and that God will preserve it always. These proceedings are now closed.”

For further reading, check out these other very informative websites about the history of the attack on Pearl Harbor: