Missouri (BB 63) - Naval Cruise Book

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The Missouri was in the dead center of the wind-up of this war. Aboard the Missouri, first Contact was made between United States and Japanese oiiicials. Seven days before the surrender ceremonies, the Missouri took aboard Japanese ernissaries and pilots to obtain vital information on ininehelds and harbor conditions in Sagami Wan and Tokyo Bay, where the United States ships were to enter. x,,,,,,.-.--H apanese at entrance to tunnel--Yokosuka Naval Base

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. ' 41, 4'lVIalone7s Maraudersf, however, poured ashore like old veterans. They found no opposition from the Japanese. There had been some speculation as to the attitude the Japanese would show toward these occupation troops but worries that another Jap trick was being planned were soon dispelled. The Third Fleet Landing Force moved to the assigned bivouac area which was the Japanese Gunnery School about a half mile from 4'Green Beach. The most vivid impression HlVlalone's Maraudersw remember today of that landing was the stifling odors of decaying sewage and decaying fish in the garbage dumps. Lt. Comdr. T. Scott QMCD USNR, of the Missouri, the Regimental Surgeon, soon had the area disinfected and the garbage dis- posed of. The Missouri Company was assigned the top floor in the Gunnery School Barracks. Although the barracks were quite clean, a good Navy field day was held to make it truly ship-shape. Enlisted personnel slept in hammocks while the oflicers slept on tables without the comfort of mattresses which the medical officers ordered to be removed. The use of all Japanese water and food was prohibitedg all food and water for the landing party being limited to what could be hauledashore. In carrying out assigned duties, the Landing Force was organized into sentry watches, in addition to the supply of working parties and guards in the uGreen Beachi' area. Japanese munition dumps were guarded. At the entrance of every cave and tunnels in the hills guards were placed. Nucleus crews were placed aboard Japanese ships in the harbor. The watches were long and the weather terrible for the first three days. By the night of the third day, how- ever, Pay Clerk E. Odom, USN, of the Missouri, had established himself ashore and had set up HODOTVVS STEW PLACE,77 an open air cafeteria Jr which specialized in hot coffee and C rations. 'cOdom,s Stew Palacew was the 'ff , brightest spot of the occupation base, a fine example of the ingenuity of the American bluejacket properly supervised by a competent officer. k i'ii'V.i . apanese engine room Coln Nogato ,. 4 1 pg-gbuonlliedefl , ,, vqntkakmmval - 'fuk' 1-lflap an .-hhudovn 1 1

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Carrying Admiral Halsey, the flagship of the Third Fleet, sailed into Sagami Wan on August 27 for a rendezvous with a Japanese destroyer carry- ing Nipponese naval officers and pilots. The U.S.S. Nicholas, a destroyer, moving ahead of the flagship, took aboard eighteen Japanese by small boat transfer. Over their bitter protests, the Japanese were relieved of their beloved samurai swords and daggers. The Nicholas then moved alongside the Missouri and transferred the Japanese by boatswains chair. A r apanese naval officers Peering from the bridge, Admiral Halsey grinned as he watched their arrival and his smile grew wider as each glum-faced Jap was swung aboard. The Admiral did not meet the visitors but entrusted that duty to his Chief of Stali, Rear Admiral Carney. The Japanese, searched again by Marine Guards, were led to the Captainis cabin where they were rigorously cross-examined by Rear Admiral Carney and other staff oliicers. Charts of Sagami and Tokyo Wan, as well as other Japanese waters, were scrutinized and the enemy called upon to specify the location of his minefields. The information thus obtained proved accurate, after thorough checking and re-checking. The Fleet was able to move into Tokyo Bay for the surrender ceremonies without incident., ,f