More computer glitches have caused the delay in today's blog. It being the third in a mini-series of 3 events of late. Each coming to my attention during research on matters hopefully of interest to readers.
It's been almost 16 decades since the very first Medal of Honor was awarded in the United States. About 3,550 medals have been awarded since. Actually another thousand can be added if you include the thousand plus, who had their medals stolen by the very government issuing them. (Much has been said on this site re the purge and that story.)
About 500 medals were awarded for actions in WW ll. Three of these came to 2 Canadians and one with ties to Canada, for actions in France, Germany and at Guadalcanal. Blogs on this site tell the stories of the three... Douglas Munroe, Charles MacGillivary and John Cary Morgan. The 500 represent one in 7 of all medals awarded since back in 1861.
It's been almost 16 decades since the very first Medal of Honor was awarded in the United States. About 3,550 medals have been awarded since. Actually another thousand can be added if you include the thousand plus, who had their medals stolen by the very government issuing them. (Much has been said on this site re the purge and that story.)
About 500 medals were awarded for actions in WW ll. Three of these came to 2 Canadians and one with ties to Canada, for actions in France, Germany and at Guadalcanal. Blogs on this site tell the stories of the three... Douglas Munroe, Charles MacGillivary and John Cary Morgan. The 500 represent one in 7 of all medals awarded since back in 1861.
This image tells me that the old veteran, was visiting a monument to those who served in many battles to preserve their home-fronts. The image of the shadow tells that he too, did his bit in days much earlier.
The image calls out for all to remember those who gave so much for us, both at home front and on battlefields around the world.
Here in Victoria BC, a popular radio station brought us a story on September 2 about the famous signing of surrender documents in Tokyo. The local paper, one know for giving great support to the military community seems to have missed the occasion. It's publication for a few days before, day of, and days after the history anniversary date in history seems to have slipped their attention.
Yet ironically on the other side of the country, at Halifax just days ago listeners to yet another popular radio talk show host brought forth the reminder that not far from their offices is a marker honouring a Canadian Civil War naval hero by the name of Charles Robinson, oft noted in these blogs.
Here is a short clip off the net about our DUTY to remember those who came before us and faced the enemy, in the service of his... or her country.
It will only take a few minutes and I plead with you to have a look at it... and then return to this blog.
The image calls out for all to remember those who gave so much for us, both at home front and on battlefields around the world.
Here in Victoria BC, a popular radio station brought us a story on September 2 about the famous signing of surrender documents in Tokyo. The local paper, one know for giving great support to the military community seems to have missed the occasion. It's publication for a few days before, day of, and days after the history anniversary date in history seems to have slipped their attention.
Yet ironically on the other side of the country, at Halifax just days ago listeners to yet another popular radio talk show host brought forth the reminder that not far from their offices is a marker honouring a Canadian Civil War naval hero by the name of Charles Robinson, oft noted in these blogs.
Here is a short clip off the net about our DUTY to remember those who came before us and faced the enemy, in the service of his... or her country.
It will only take a few minutes and I plead with you to have a look at it... and then return to this blog.
Here is the link...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgYLr_LfhLo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgYLr_LfhLo
I hope you checked this out and think it would be great if you share it with your friends and family.
On 15 August 1945 the world heard Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced to the world, by radio, that WW ll was over. Hostilities in Europe had already come to an end 3 months earlier with VE Day marking and end to battling in those theaters. But the August surrender by the Japanese, became formal once they signed the documents presented in Tokyo on 2 September. The date has since become known as VJ Day, for the victory of the Allies over Japan.
One that has been said to have cost over 4 Trillion in current US Dollars. More troubling, it also cost the world the lives of some 2.3 BILLION military and civilian casualties. From 19-28 million alone died from famine and diseases.
After the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan had had enough and called it quits.
On 15 August 1945 the world heard Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced to the world, by radio, that WW ll was over. Hostilities in Europe had already come to an end 3 months earlier with VE Day marking and end to battling in those theaters. But the August surrender by the Japanese, became formal once they signed the documents presented in Tokyo on 2 September. The date has since become known as VJ Day, for the victory of the Allies over Japan.
One that has been said to have cost over 4 Trillion in current US Dollars. More troubling, it also cost the world the lives of some 2.3 BILLION military and civilian casualties. From 19-28 million alone died from famine and diseases.
After the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan had had enough and called it quits.
The above scenes in New York city were no doubt going on all across the US, Canada and many parts of the world that day and for days to follow.
Here we see the USS Missouri, a 45,000 ton war ship crewed by about 2,700 men and officers. Her powerful guns could lob shell upwards of 24 miles away.
The ship, pictured after the war, was brought into Tokyo Bay to accept the formal Japanese surrender of 2 September 1945. On her decks and hanging form every possible vantage point were guests and crew wanting to take part, if by viewing alone, one of the most significant event in US and world History. Her deck was also playing host to about 200 journalists.
All for a ceremony destined to last less than 25 minutes!
The ship, pictured after the war, was brought into Tokyo Bay to accept the formal Japanese surrender of 2 September 1945. On her decks and hanging form every possible vantage point were guests and crew wanting to take part, if by viewing alone, one of the most significant event in US and world History. Her deck was also playing host to about 200 journalists.
All for a ceremony destined to last less than 25 minutes!
Members of the ship's crew took to their advantage points to view the ceremony about to begin. Also witnessing the historic moment were several soldiers who had been Prisoners of War and just recently released.
Japanese dignitaries, no doubt wishing they were anywhere else in the world, stood on the Gallery Deck of the USS Missouri awaiting the start of the signing ceremony.
Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signed on behalf of the Japanese Emperor and General Yoshijiro Umezu signed on behalf of the Japanese Army. One of them is shown signing.
General Douglas MacArthur, Commander of the troops in the South West Pacific, and also as Supreme Allied Commander is show here signed the document of surrender. He and the Japanese dignitaries signed 2 documents as did all those to follow. One would be for the Allies and one for the Japanese. After doing so, he had the authorities of several of the major Allied warring parties then sign both copies.
Here we see Toronto born Colonel Lawrence Cosgrave signing the first of 2 documents. At the time he was serving as the Canadian military attache to Australia.
General MacArthur, it is said, noted that Cosgrave might have been having difficulty signing, and approached, as seen above, and being shown where to sign the second document, but allowing the first to stand. The signature was below instead of ...ON... the line.
This may well have been due to difficulties. He was blind in one eye from war injuries in WW l and came away from that war earning not one... but two Distinguished Service Order's and the Croix de Guerre from France.
This may well have been due to difficulties. He was blind in one eye from war injuries in WW l and came away from that war earning not one... but two Distinguished Service Order's and the Croix de Guerre from France.
Here is the 2 page document. Note the 4th line from bottom on the right document. The line is empty, and the signature then follows.
Here is the 2ng page enlarged and showing the error more clearly.
Shown here are the two Japanese dignitaries and pointing out the error. MacArthur's aid adjusted the document to simply have the remaining signatures appear on line lower than expected and his initialing each to its authenticity. This was acceptable by all concerned.
The 2nd document was the one the Japanese would take to their leaders. It was signed correctly.
The 2nd document was the one the Japanese would take to their leaders. It was signed correctly.
A few Allied planes flew overhead to salute their acknowledgement that the war had finally come to an end. Actually, rather than a few, I counted at least 200 in this photo.
I will be back with my next blog in 2 weeks... on Sunday 20 September
Hope you will join me then,
Bart
Hope you will join me then,
Bart
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