Wednesday, August 15

“V-J DAY”!!!! This is it! Today at 0900 the Japs accepted and the war is over! Everyone is about to go wild, it’s what we’ve all waited for so long. I slept through it though, had the mid-watch last night and didn’t find it out till I go up for chow. We made landings today as usual, no telling how long this will go on. Probably we’ll get some troops and go into Japan, then home? P.S. This was not officially V-J Day, it will not come till the surrender terms are signed.

Thursday, August 16

Unloaded all troops at Canda beach, then went to Lemery to unload remaining cargo. Arrived there around 1600. We leave for Subic Bay at 2400 arriving there around 0700 tomorrow morning. We are going to get occupation troops and haul them into Japan by the looks of things.

Friday, August 17

Arrived off Subic Bay at 0700. A lot of ships in here. Went alongside a tanker and took on fuel. The squadron leader, the Cecil, is at Manila and all Troop Quartermasters are going to Manila. It is fairly certain we will take troops in, but where and when we don’t know as yet, except that it will be soon, no doubt. Coming into Subic this morning we passed about 25 LST’s with all lights on, it certainly looked funny.

Saturday, August 18

Went to Olongapo this afternoon to get some radio parts. It certainly has been built up since we were here three months ago, this is really going to be a big Naval base. Also sent liberty party ashore to Grande Island

Sunday, August 19

Anchored in Subic. Still waiting word from Manila as to where we’ll go and when.

Monday, August 20

Left Subic Bay around 0700, destination Batangas, about 100 miles south and east of here. Near Lemery and Canda Beach. We are to meet the Cecil there and pick up the 1st Calvary Division as occupation troops. We arrived Batangas around 1400. We start to load equipment tomorrow. Have some soldiers on board. The say they are going to Yakhihama (Yokahama), in Japan.

Tuesday, August 21

Loaded all day and night. Supposed to go to Canda Beach tomorrow to pick up the rest of the troops and some more equipment. Then we will probably be on our way. The Japs have signed the surrender terms with McArthur in Manila and probably we’ll be there in 10 days or less.

Wednesday, August 22

Went to Canda Beach and loaded troops, have about 1500 on board now, all from the first Calvary Division.

Thursday, August 23

Went back to Lemery. We are to leave tomorrow morning.

Friday, August 24

The whole convoy got underway around 0700, we are sailing in two columns, but as soon as we got out to sea we went into four columns. Have Admiral Hall with us, and a few DE’s and PC’s as escorts.

Saturday, August 25

About 2300 last night we turned around and headed for Subic Bay. Typhoon ahead. We were only a little way from Lingayen Gulf. Returned Subic around 0800.

Sunday, August 26

Laid in Subic most of the day, finally got underway around 1300.

Monday, August 27

At sea. We are supposed to take these troops into Yokohama itself if we can get into the docks. If not we go to Sagami Bay just south of there about 10 miles. Still a lot of typhoon warnings.

Tuesday, August 28

At sea. At sunset we were just north of Luzon going through the passage there. A lot of little islands all around. Also have several destroyers with us.

Wednesday/ Thursday, August 29/30

At sea.

Friday, August 31

At sea. Could arrive tomorrow afternoon but will slow down and pull in around Sunday morning.

Saturday, September 1

Barometer dropped today, the weather is dark and raining, also windy. Looks like it may be a typhoon blowing up. Buried an army soldier at sea early in the morning, he died of pneumonia. Around 6:00 P.M. it got black as pitch out and started to blow and rain. The convoy went into one single file. It stretched for 29 miles back. We are the 3rd ship in column. Arrive off Japan around 0400 tomorrow.

Sunday, September 2

“V.J. DAY”!!! Came into Tokyo Bay around 0600. Went right into Yokohama and dropped anchor at 0948 just outside of the breakwater. The troops went ashore in the small boats. Then a Jap pilot boarded us and took us into the dock by the custom house, to unload, which we started doing. Went by the Missouri coming in and she had all the crew lined up in whites on deck for the ceremony of surrender. We heard it on the radio. Hundred of planes came over her at the time of the signing 10:30 A.M. Not much sign of activity here, the area around the docks is all evacuated. Some of the fellows have gone ashore to wonder around and pick up souvenirs. We should be unloaded in 24 hours, then back to the Philippines for probably another load. We may get liberty next time. The city here as we see it is not bombed bad and they have the lights on. Things are going on about the same. This is a great day!~!!!!!!

Monday, September 3

Finished unloading cargo early in the morning and left the pier about 0600. In doing so we caught our screw in a log and from all reports have cut and dent it up quite a bit. Came out to anchor and laid in the bay all day.

Tuesday, September 4

Got underway at 1400 today for Guam, there to await further orders from COM 7th FLT. We have some Navy passengers on board who are to go to the states. We may take them back, they say the extra screw we have will not fit, so we’ll have to go to dry dock somewhere to get it fixed up. We are to arrive off Guam on Sunday morning, the 9th. Passed by Mt. Fujiyama on the way out but all you could see was the top, no snow.