Author Recalls V-J Day in the Philippines, 14 August 1945

Celebration in the Pacific upon hearing news of Japanese surrender, 15 August 1945.

On 15 August 1945 (14 August 1945 in Washington, D.C.), U.S. Navy Gunner’s Mate Bill McGee was in Subic Bay, the Philippines, when he heard the news over the Air Force Radio Network, “JAPAN SURRENDERS!”

In the following excerpt from McGee’s BLUEJACKET ODYSSEY, 1942-1946, the author recalls his feelings and those of millions of other Americans who experienced that climactic moment.

“In an instant, shouts of joy filled the morning air around the base and all across the Bay. Soon fog horns, sirens, and every other noisemaking device conceivable geared up. Work stopped everywhere as people hugged or shook hands. Sailors looked at each other and shouted, “Hey, do you know the war is over?” It was on everyone’s lips: “The war is over!” Sailors came out of the base buildings like they were on fire. They were different men from those who had gone in. They raced to the canteen to celebrate the end of the fighting with beer and laughter.

“Fire and salvage tugs began pumping hundreds of fountains of water up in the air. Other ships broke out fire pumps and portable “handy billies” to add more spray and mist to the scene. Soon, small craft, and some not so small ships, got underway and formed columns that cruised in figure eights around the Bay. The victory parade lasted several hours.

“Hidden cans of beer and bottles of bourbon suddenly appeared. As I stood by the Bay and watched the parade of ships and small craft, I suddenly remembered I still had over a year to go on my Regular Navy enlistment. What now, I wondered. I was also thankful I didn’t have Shore Patrol duty that day.

“Later that evening, hundreds of searchlights lit up the sky in sweeping crisscross patterns as star shells and very signals added brilliant colors to the dark canvas. Every pyrotechnic locker in the harbor was emptied that night. You could almost read by the light of the fireworks.

“There were also some very somber thoughts and discussions. Everyone was relieved that they made it through the war, but there were too many memories of shipmates who weren’t so lucky. Some of the reservists were already adding up their discharge points to see who would be the first to go home.”

—Excerpted from Chapter 15, The Imperial Sun Sets, BLUEJACKET ODYSSEY, 1942-1946: Guadalcanal to Bikini, Naval Armed Guard in the Pacific by William L. McGee (BMC Publications, 2000)

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