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The Red Cross told my mother if the war had lasted another month my father would have died and I wouldn’t be here. He was a POW of the empire, she was an internee.
Our family lived in San Francisco at the time. When VJ Day was declared there was complete pandemonium that in turn led to some rioting by civilians and military men. One of my aunts was 15 at the time, she and a friend went downtown to see the celebrations, after my grandfather told them not to go. He was a motorman (streetcar driver) for the SF-Muni and had seen how some of the celebration was getting out of hand. Nevertheless, my aunt and her friend got stuck in a crush of sailors and were passed around like candy, kissed and groped. They eventually made it home, the wiser. In the meantime, the military had to place a curfew on their men and confined them to their barracks and ships. SF was declared off limits, only soldiers and sailors with family in the city could visit at restricted times. My aunt's husband who she married in the 1950's, was a radio man on the USS Louisville from 1942-1945.They were being made to prepare for the invasion of Japan (high speed maneuvers, that strained the old battle cruiser and gun testing) when word got out that the Japanese had surrendered. They had been through several kamikaze attacks before, one of which destroyed the bridge killing their captain and a complement of officers. Uncle had to help clean up the mess of blood and gore, including the remnants of the radio man who was his best friend on the ship. There was great relief when VJ Day was declared, my uncle said everyone was scared of invading Japan because they knew the people in their desperation, would be fighting like cornered animals and casualties on both sides would be horrific.
The Red Cross told my mother if the war had lasted another month my father would have died and I wouldn’t be here. He was a POW of the empire, she was an internee.
ReplyDeleteOur family lived in San Francisco at the time. When VJ Day was declared there was complete pandemonium that in turn led to some rioting by civilians and military men. One of my aunts was 15 at the time, she and a friend went downtown to see the celebrations, after my grandfather told them not to go.
ReplyDeleteHe was a motorman (streetcar driver) for the SF-Muni and had seen how some of the celebration was getting out of hand. Nevertheless, my aunt and her friend got stuck in a crush of sailors and were passed around like candy, kissed and groped. They eventually made it home, the wiser. In the meantime, the military had to place a curfew on their men and confined them to their barracks and ships. SF was declared off limits, only soldiers and sailors with family in the city could visit at restricted times. My aunt's husband who she married in the 1950's, was a radio man on the USS Louisville from 1942-1945.They were being made to prepare for the invasion of Japan (high speed maneuvers, that strained the old battle cruiser and gun testing) when word got out that the Japanese had surrendered. They had been through several kamikaze attacks before, one of which destroyed the bridge killing their captain and a complement of officers. Uncle had to help clean up the mess of blood and gore, including the remnants of the radio man who was his best friend on the ship. There was great relief when VJ Day was declared, my uncle said everyone was scared of invading Japan because they knew the people in their desperation, would be fighting like cornered animals and casualties on both sides would be horrific.
Christiaan - That could have been the fate of many if the war had dragged on longer.
ReplyDeleteAnon@7:25pm - Thank you for sharing that with us.