Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 220 text:

The surrender of the Japanese forces is certified by the pen of Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu in the ceremony aboard the U. S. S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay September 2, 1945. I , - -rr was-Qiirx Overjoycd at the prospect of peace, celebrations are by captain, officers and crew alike. 192 '1

Page 219 text:

ll- ' thing off. News of the disaster that had struck the cruiser Indianapolis only a few days before gave fortification to our skepticism. Yet at the same time we were too human not to be stirred by hope that what we had heard was true: that it was to be all over, that fear in battle, and death in battle were past, that victory was ours, and that we might at last return to loved ones at home. Later, on the evening of August 14, we were off the island of Maui, waiting the arrival of planes which were going to tow illuminated target sleeves for night AA practice. The Hawaiian night was magnificent with stars and the perfume of the islands, the sea was calm, and here and there long yellow tracks ran from the ship over the placid water to brilliant, low swinging stars. Soon planes appeared and the quiet of the night was shattered by the racket of our AA guns opening up on target. Orange-red tracers added their brilliance to the rich illumination of the heavens. The smell of burnt powder filled the air, and little clouds of smoke from the ship's guns drifted up against the stars. ln the course of a lull, while we were waiting for the plane to make another run, the radio announced that the Emperor had accepted the Potsdam ultimatum. It was still unofficial, but the sources seemed authentic. lt was really over! Practice continued through the evening, however. The guns fired, tracers rose from hot barrels, and preparation W61'1T 011, even though it had become probable that the guns of the Louisville would never fire in earnest again. But we hoped that our warlike activity while peace was first becoming a reality, would be a symbol of the alertness the Navy would maintain in years to come. Let there never again be a Pearl Harbor! The following day the formal announce- ments were made by the President and Prime Minister Attlee. We were sailing back to port under a bright noonday sun, when the captainps voice came over the '.'I'A': system, gave all hands the official good news, and added warning against possible treachery of individual enemy units. Shouts went up, and a spirit of celebration settled over the ship that lasted for many days. Everyone felt good inside. Several weeks later, riding out a typhoon off Okinawa, whither we had come to commence our occupation duties, we heard the finale of the drama. While forty-knot winds drove green water over our bows, we listened to the broadcast of the solemn ceremony that was taking place on the forecastle deck of the Missouri. The nation had been everywhere tri- umphant. Peace, diflicult and uncertain of achievement, was again settling slowly on the world. And much work lay ahead. Many important undertakings .remained for our forces abroad, and at home, as we soon learned, painful readjustments were in the making. The same basic problems and heavy obligations of the nation had been phrased by Lincoln for another gen- eration of Americans: fGWith malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan-to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nationsf' I9

Page 221 text:

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz signs his name to the surrender instrument. Mightier than the sword, the weight behind this pen is that of the greatest navy in the world. ' ff. Reactions of men at their battle stations are to holler. laugh, do a jig, or just grin. 193