On this day in 1945...
... the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed on the deck of the USS Missouri and the horror of World War II was officially over and the Asian reconstruction could begin. It was already underway in Europe.
My father was a machinist's mate on a liberty ship in the war, originally in the Mediterranean, but soon on it's way to Asia to transport supplies and soldiers to and from the area. It wasn't until nearly 1947 before he was discharged.
Another man he and I met much later, Elmer Gustafsen, was an electrician's mate on the USS Missouri. He witnessed this signing in Yokohama Bay. The USS Nicholas, the most decorated destroyer in the war, was an escort to the Missouri. Why did I mention this? Because when the Korea conflict warmed up, my father was recalled to active duty and told to report to the USS Nicholas. He spent the fall of 1950 getting the ship ready for action. Several updates were needed, then a shakedown on the way to Hawaii where more work was done in Pearl Harbor. He spent the next two years sailing the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea, sometimes manning the smoke generator - his action station, but mostly carrying out machinery repairs in the engine room.
Dad and I met Elmer later in the 60's, he was running a service station for boats and cars at the Lake of the Ozarks. Dad would swap war stories with him and maybe I'd buy a gallon or two for my little 5HP fishing boat from him and we'd chat about the war and electricity too. I think the first radio repair job I did was for him. He'd gotten four CB radios in payment for an engine repair job and needed them put into working order. I was allowed to keep one for my troubles. Mostly they just needed a tube or two and a general tune up. He used one as a base station at his floating service dock and the others went into his car and truck. I put mine in the cabin my folks rented and sometimes we'd chat. CB was a busy thing at the lake.
Small world indeed.
My father was a machinist's mate on a liberty ship in the war, originally in the Mediterranean, but soon on it's way to Asia to transport supplies and soldiers to and from the area. It wasn't until nearly 1947 before he was discharged.
Another man he and I met much later, Elmer Gustafsen, was an electrician's mate on the USS Missouri. He witnessed this signing in Yokohama Bay. The USS Nicholas, the most decorated destroyer in the war, was an escort to the Missouri. Why did I mention this? Because when the Korea conflict warmed up, my father was recalled to active duty and told to report to the USS Nicholas. He spent the fall of 1950 getting the ship ready for action. Several updates were needed, then a shakedown on the way to Hawaii where more work was done in Pearl Harbor. He spent the next two years sailing the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea, sometimes manning the smoke generator - his action station, but mostly carrying out machinery repairs in the engine room.
Dad and I met Elmer later in the 60's, he was running a service station for boats and cars at the Lake of the Ozarks. Dad would swap war stories with him and maybe I'd buy a gallon or two for my little 5HP fishing boat from him and we'd chat about the war and electricity too. I think the first radio repair job I did was for him. He'd gotten four CB radios in payment for an engine repair job and needed them put into working order. I was allowed to keep one for my troubles. Mostly they just needed a tube or two and a general tune up. He used one as a base station at his floating service dock and the others went into his car and truck. I put mine in the cabin my folks rented and sometimes we'd chat. CB was a busy thing at the lake.
Small world indeed.