We remained in Tokyo Bay that night and had another movie topside everything was quiet and nothing unusual developed.
Early the next morning we steamed out with two APD’s (Attack Personnel Destroyer). We were to support a landing on a seaplane base between Yokosuka and Sugami Bay.
Once more we remained close to the beach and the troops went ashore without any trouble. There were 6 seaplanes near the waters edge and many dummy planes in the revetments. Some of the dummies were real planes that had been seriously damaged before. There was a radio station and several other camouflaged buildings that looked like hangers. Many of them had their windows knocked out and a few bomb craters.
We had a movie that night and it rained like hell. I don’t think anyone even moved when the rain started. Everyone is screaming now as the latest dope is that we are going to stay out here for several months. This crew had been out here so long now with lousy chow and petty orders until they are fed up, but good!!!!! Then to add insult to injury the captain turned in a report that our morale is 4.0 which is far from the truth. If he only knew or cared for a crew that has fought like hell for him in the past his report would have been different.
Early the next morning we were underway to relieve the Stockham (DD683)on patrol. She had been patrolling the last 48 hours and had intercepted a Japanese APD and a destroyer that had steamed in close to the beach so our radar could not pick them up. The Stockham stopped them and they surrendered.
All day we were steaming slowly around and doing nothing. In the early morning we watched 79 transports loaded with troops steam into port for the occupational forces.
The morning of Sunday September 2 the Formal peace terms were signed by the allied nations and Japan aboard the Missouri. That day there were 1500 B-29’s and a thousand carrier based planes flying overhead. The sky was filled and then too the big C-47 transport planes were busily evacuating the prisoners of war to the states.
We had a drill general quarters in the early afternoon for only one reason to kill time and make the crew as miserable as hell. We secured after a few minutes, nearly and hour to be exact.
That afternoon we saw the Japanese fishing boats over near the beach. We watched them through the scopes and their crude efforts were really interesting. It really gives you a funny feeling to know that only a few weeks before we were fighting and killing these people on sight.
Late that afternoon a Japanese hospital ship passed us on its way out. The Japanese had permission to leave so they could bring some of their wounded back from the island bases. As she steamed by in the first dust of darkness the red lights gleamed brightly in the twilight of the evening.
The next morning we went alongside the USS Missouri and Admiral Halsey cam aboard. We were in the uniform of undress whites. We hauled his 4 star flag up to the mast and headed for Yokohama.
We tied up to the dock and remained there for about 5 hours. The dock was filled with ammunition and equipment belonging to the Army. The soldiers were guarding the Japanese workmen. They all were wearing full battle equipment and seemed plenty rough. The Japanese were of the Imperial Army and were very anxious to obey.