Japan surrenderes august 14, 1945

[Ray Merrell]

Japan Surrendered August 14, 1945 Ending WWII.

From Guam we got aboard ship The U.S.S. Grimes and headed for Japan. The ship's horns or whistles were blowing in celebration. A GREAT day!

Gung Ho,

Ray

[DWG]

Thanks Ray! Semper Fi!

[FistFu68]

If it weren't for You Men we'd be speaking Japanese Semper Fidelis GodBless you

[Rocky C]

Thank you Ray for your Service and Sacrifices Brother.

Rhode Island is the only State in the Country that still observes VJ Day as a Holiday.

That day was yesterday...

Semper Fi,
Rocky

[Ray Merrell]

Thank you Rhode Island...we need more states like that.
Our paper (KC Star) this morning didn't even mention V-J Day, maybe tomorrow.
And thank YOU Rocky for your service to our great country.

Gung Ho,

Ray

[DWG]

Kids don't learn it in school anymore, so why would they even think about it. It is officially Sept. 12, 1945; that's when they signed the papers anyway. I'm sure any serviceman (or woman) would be more enthusiastic about the day the shooting stopped than when the suits signed a paper though. Had a chemistry professor that was an army grunt during the war; I once asked him what he thought of the Atomic bomb. Said he was on a ship bound for Japan, when he heard about it, it tickled him plum pink, (or words to that effect).

[Ray Merrell]

In three days we were close to Japan, but we sailed back and forth just out of the harbor. We anchored in the bay for two days then landed the morning of the 31st. It seemed funny to be in Japan and not be fighting.

[m14ed]

It seemed funny to be in Japan ,
and not be fighting.

How do you think the japanese Felt ???

THANKS RAY..

You have our respect and admiration as do all our previous Senior Brother Marines

[DWG]

Ray, guys like you are the large part of the reason the rest of us wanted to be Marines! Thanks!

[Ray Merrell]

How do you think the japanese Felt ???

THANKS RAY..

You have our respect and admiration as do all our previous Senior Brother Marines

m14ed, I'm sure the Japanese were glad the war was over also. They were friendly and willing to help anyway they could. I got aquainted with a very nice Japanese man, Y. Masuda, he invited and took a friend Goebel and I to Kamakura, a city of temples and shrines, and to his home. We drank green tea with him.