Dixie (AD 14) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 28 text:

VICTORY CELEBRATION END OF JAPANESE WAR-- -Service Squadron Ten Anchorage, Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands.

Page 27 text:

The pictures on this page show some of the Rec Areas built by DIXIE men during the war. Top and middle photo courtesy of Mr. John J. Thellman former crewmember. Bottom photo, Mr. Bud Nagle. Duffy ' s Tavern . Beer Chits were used instead of money to get your beer, as in the sample below. nlerV Afloat Recrea ♦ PURVIS BAY £ GOOD FOB ONE (1) BEER V % Not good after A SS-cf June 28, J4 ' 2 Band Practice!!

Page 29 text:

The DIXIE JOURNAL uxtba. COVERS THE DIXIE LIKE THE DEW • FINAL U. S. S. DIXIE 11 August 1945 JAPS SURRENDER WILL ACCEPT POTSDAM CONFERENCE TERMS Celebration, Fireworks, Almost Equal Times Square Immediately following the newscast last night announcing that the Japs were will- ing to accept surrender terms, wild rejoic- ing ocurred throughout the Dixie. Shouts and whistling by the crew soon carried the lined the rails to view a spectacular fire- works exhibition as all the ships in the har- bor fired flares, rang their bells, blew whistles and turned on their searchlight batteries. You might have seen bigger fireworks exhibitions. You might have heard more noise in Times Square. But you ' ve never seen anything than you ' d rather see than this — and you won ' t forget it for a long time. What Now!!! The question is — when do we start for home ? Well, that probably won ' t be answer- sd for nwhile. But don ' t be impatient. Every- body wants to go home. Most of us are wondering when we ' ll be discharged. But let ' s not forget that demobilization is a tremendous job. Also, there are thous- ands of ships to be decommissioned — and somebody has to do that. All this will take time. As soon as possible, we ' ll all get the word — jut hold onto youi hat, mate. But it ' ll be good to ride the Dixie home. Japs Want Emperor The Domei News Agency broadcast said that Japanese acceptance of the surrender terms was contingent upon Emperor Hiro- hito being permitted to retain his sovereign- ty. No opinions were expressed by any of the conferees at the White House meeting as to the attitude the Allied governments would take on this matter. It was broadcast last night at 9 p. m. that the Japanese government was willing to accept surrender terms as outlined at the Potsdam Confer- ence, upon the condition that Empiror Hirohito be spared by the Allies. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes said that the United States gov- ernment had not officially received any Japanese offer to accept the Potsdam Ultimatum. The announcement of Japan ' s willingness to surrender was picked up from the Japanese News Agency Domei broadcasting that the Japanese government is ready to accept the terms as enumerated in the joint dec- laration which was issued at Potsdam on July 26. (A newscast from WBTK at 11 p.m. said that the official offer had been received in Washington and that President Truman had called a spe- cial cabinet meeting to discuss the possibility of a Japanese surrender.) The Domei broadcast was a transmission to the Swedish and Swiss governments for official forwarding to the governments of Great Britain, the United States, China and Russia. Moscow Contacted Moscow radio announced that Japan- ese foreign minister Shignori Togo had expressed to the Russian ambassador Jacob Malikz Japan ' s willingness to ac- cept the Potsdam Declaration, the United Press reported. Meeting at White House Secretary of State Byrnes, attending a White House conference, said that if a Jap- anese surrender offer is received officially it will be necessary for the United States to communicate with other Allied govern- QreWs Reaction The reporters for the Journal were on the job when the word got around that the Japs were surrendering, and they picked up a few spontaneous statements from officers and crew on their reaction to the surrender news. Francis Illerbrunn, MMR2c, Mt. Carmel, North .Dakota: Now I can go back home and get married. Ensign Harris Magrane, Springfield, New York: It came to me as a shock. I can ' t realize it as yet. Eugene T. Lewis, HAlc, St Petersburg, FTa.: I ' m going to get drunk as hell the first chance I get. Only ten more months to go. Jin Heilig, TM2c, Lancaster, Pa.: I was damn happy. I want to go home. R. R. Schultz, Sic, Chicago: The first thought that came to me was about getting home and getting married to the sweetest me nts before reaching a decision, in the world. j We shall take no action without con- B. P. Kincaid, RMlc, Downey, Calif.: I suiting other Allied governments, Byrnes almost whacked my nose off — happened to 3a id. be shaving at the time. Thank God it ' s all over. T Forrestal Attends W. Hewitt, SOM c, Oakland, Calif.: Byrnes with Secretary of War Stimson U best news a man could hear or ever tTf iT ° f ! m f jd a half hour meeting with President Tru- man followimr th Q On»««| bro-Hcca - . Forrestal, after the conference, said that he hoped the surrender offer was true and expect to hear. Let ' s go home. Van Rice, SClc, Seneca, S.C.: I just got all excited and couldn ' t help but cry. I could- n ' t say anything, but I guess there was no- tnat 8 expected a development soon thing to say.