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Randolph rejoices as peace came to the world 80 years ago
Aug. 16, 1945
RANDOLPH -Peace came to the world once more on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 1945, when World War II, the greatest and bloodiest conflict in all history, was ended with the unconditional surrender of Japan to the allied forces.
The momentous announcement was given at six o’clock (c.w.t.) by President Harry S. Truman, who proclaimed the tidings to the world shortly after he received the Japanese government’s formal reply to the allied surrender terms.
General Douglas MacArthur, who led the American forces from those first dark days in 1941 in the Philippines back to the very shores of the Jap mainland, was named supreme allied commander to receive the formal Japanese surrender.
V-J Day will not be proclaimed by President Truman until after the formal surrender documents are signed.
Announcements that Japan had surrendered were made simultaneously in Moscow, Britain and China and high ranking officers of these nations will be present at the signing of the formal surrender terms. Three years and eight months after the Japs’ treacherous attack on Pearl Harbor — “a day that shall live in infamy” — the United States and its allies had brought the Japanese empire to its knees in one of the most overwhelming defeats in all history, a defeat without an invasion, made possible by the use of air power.
Japan has suffered an ignominious defeat, but the twofront war into which the United States was plunged following Pearl Harbor was the bloodiest and most destructive in the history of the world.
The United States suffered over 1,000,000 casualties, and the war cost this country 350 billion dollars. The world-wide struggle brought 55 million casualties to the world and cost a trillion dollars.
The U.S. casualties in the Pacific were high, approaching 300,000, and the victory over the Japs was dearly bought.
Two Randolph men gave their lives in the struggle for the Pacific and a third is listed as missing following action in service of his country.
Pfc. James E. Bermel was the first Randolph man to die in the Pacific theater of war.
He became ill while on a transport en route to Leyte, at the time of the invasion of that island, and died Oct. 27, 1944, shortly after he underwent an emergency operation upon landing at Leyte. He is buried on that island in the far Pacific.
Major William P. Dwyer died Feb. 27, 1945, on Tinian in the Pacific as the result of injuries received a few hours before in a plane crash. He is buried in a cemetery on that island.
Larry Dendinger, ship’s service mate third class, was on the carrier Franklin, which on March 19 was heavily damaged by fire and explosions after being struck by a Jap suicide plane.
Little hope is held that he is alive although he is officially listed as missing.
These men, with three who died in their country’s service in the United States, and with five who gave their lives on Europe’s battlefronts and in air battles, and the one airman still listed as missing in England, is the terrific price that Randolph has paid as her share in the world-wide war.
Many Randolph men were wounded, several most seriously.
The numerous decorations, commendations and citations awarded to Randolph’s service men for exploits on battlefields and behind the lines bear testimony to the contribution men from Randolph made toward the final and complete victory.
The war has been won, but the battle for full employment and a stable economy has just begun.
The problems of the returning servicemen are plenty and readjustment to a peacetime world is going to be difficult for both
