THE INSTRUMENTS OF SURRENDER--SEPTEMBER 2, 1945--TOKYO BAY

62 years ago today, with the stroke of a pen, WWII officially came to an end. A delegation from the Allied Powers, led by General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, met with Representatives of Japan on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay for the formal signing of the Instruments of Surrender. The ceremony took less than half-an-hour.

Earlier, I posted about certain events that led to the end of the war, beginning with Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Japan's announced surrender on August 14. Read the BBC's article from September 2, 1945, and take a behind-the-scenes look at the events at this site. Included are many pics as well as other links.

WWII was the last "real" war the United States won. Whether in Europe or the Pacific, the subject has always fascinated me. And since the end of this war, for reasons unknown to me, it appears that the United States has "misplaced" the formula for winning a war. Men like Patton and MacArthur knew the formula, made their views known privately--sometimes publicly--and were fired. But that's a subject for another day.

Today, take a moment to remember all who gave their lives in defense of this Nation during WWII. Watch the ceremony from the deck of the USS Missouri: