V-J DAY at PEARL HARBOR     

By: William Suter South Pasadina, California

MY DESTROYER, the USS Sigsbee, spent

the summer of 1945 under repair in Pearl

Harbor, where I joined her, June 11, 1945. 

On a day of liberty, I was at the Army-Navy

YMCA  in downtown Honolulu, the gathering

place for all servicemen and women, when we

got the word of Japan’s surrender.

Outside in Waikiki, the streets were full of

sailors, soldiers and marines.  There were few

civilians on the streets and the only women

were WAVES, happily being kissed by every

sailor in their paths.

Returning to our barracks - our ship had been

repaired but we were still living ashore. we

were all too excited to think of hitting the sack.

I was among the sailors who climbed onto the

roof of our one - story barracks, where we sat

and watched the commotion at Pearl Harbor.

Every ship had all its searchlights and signal

lamps lit and flares were being sent up as well.

I had a newspaper with me on the roof and at

10:30 at night I could read the paper clearly

with just the light from the harbor in the

distance.

Never before or since have I seen a fireworks

display to rival what I saw that night.

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Web Master's Note; The article above appeared in the current issue of "REMINISCE" and was sent to me recently, by my dear friend, Louie Marquez of Salt Lake City, UT (and Yuma, AZ) Thanks Louie!    Billy Roberts, Glenn, CA