65th Anniversary of the End of World War II

Tomorrow marks the 65th anniversary of the Japanese surrender, marking the end of World War II. I haven't seen too much about it, actually just this one article in the August 13th Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Wilmington celebrates V-J Day" by Wilbur D. Jones, Jr.

Back on August 15, 1945 (Japan time) Winter Park resident and New Hanover High School graduate Lt. jg Ralph "Buck" Barden, a TBM Avenger bomber pilot, was on his way to bomb a Tokyo electronics plant.

Half way there, he was ordered to abort the mission, jettison his bombs and return to the carrier USS Lexington. His war was over and so was everyone else's.

President Truman announced that the Japanese had surrendered at 7 pm, Tuesday, August 14, 1945. News reached Wilmington at sunset. Those businesses still open, immediately closed and thousands of celebrants gathered at Front Street. Autos were blasting their horns and many people were singing patriotic songs.

The article's writer remembers sitting at home with his parents and sister and listening to the news over the radio and later managing to get through on their party line and call friends.

He remembers that friends of his family had a baby girl born that day and that his mother had tried, tongue-in-cheek, to have her named VJ.

Jones said that VE Day had come during the day and again all businesses and schools were closed and people were out on the streets to celebrate.

A Great Day in US History! --Cooter