World War II History

Approaching War’s End

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Nov 30, 2019

Annotated partial view of 1945 USN Tokyo Bay Approach Chart. Source: Naval History and Heritage CommandSeventy-four years ago today… (The following excerpts are transcribed from Missouri’s World...

Honolulu Festival’s Nagaoka fireworks

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Nov 30, 2019

I hope you will have, or had, the opportunity to view the Honolulu Festival’s Nagaoka fireworks presentation this year. There is a special significance to them, if you are not already aware. Every...

Mission to Mukden

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Nov 30, 2019

Former POW’s Lt. General Jonathan Wainwright, commander of Allied forces in the Philippines, and Lt. General Arthur Percival, commander of Allied forces in Malaya and Singapore, (standing behind...

Gyokuon Hoso: The Jewel Voice Broadcast

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Nov 30, 2019

Citizens of Japan listen to their Emperor’s voice for the first time. The recording took place late at night, on August 14, 1945, in a room of the Imperial Household Ministry. It was broadcast at...

Hiroshima: August 6, 1945

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Nov 30, 2019

We Remember.

The Sunken Japanese Battleship Hiei Discovered Near Savo

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Nov 30, 2019

Japanese battleship Hiei. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo. It has been announced that the wreck of the Japanese Battleship Hiei has been located off the Solomon Islands by the crew of...

The War Correspondents

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Nov 30, 2019

We tend to overlook them, those who were also present aboard Missouri on September 2, 1945 as General MacArthur stepped to the microphone to begin proceedings to formally end World War II. They were...

The Battle of Okinawa

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Nov 30, 2019

The USS West Virginia is struck by a Kamikaze on April 1, 1945 during the Allied invasion of Okinawa. Monday, April 1, we remember the last major battle of World War II. The Allied forces involved,...

Official Correspondence - My Dear Mr. President

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Nov 24, 2019

My dear Mr. President: My deepest appreciation for the bottle of Chivas Regal. Your thoughtfulness and kindness in sending it to me will remain in my memory for a long time to come. It is my...

“A Few Days Ago, We Were At War…”

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Nov 24, 2019

“Bob” Shultz was a Radioman 3rd class, CR Division aboard Missouri, during World War II. He wrote this letter home to his mother and father on August 17, 1945: “Dear Mom and Dad; It’s hard to...