VJ Day meant the end of World War II, but at a very high price.  For those who don’t know what V.J. Day is it’s Victory over Japan Day, also known as  “Victory in the Pacific Day”, “V-J Day”, or “V-P Day”! On Aug. 14, 1945 Japan surrendered unconditionally, after the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on two of their cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Those bombs killed about a quarter of a million people.

It was actually August 15 when it actually happened but because of the time zone changes it was August 14 for the United States when it happened. Whenever it happened everyone was happy that the war was over. VE Day happened a few months earlier and everyone could see the end of the war in sight. Japan started the war with the U.S. December 7, 1941 and 4 long years later it ended with both side having lost many great men and women.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto said, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” He didn’t really realize what a monster they’d awoke in us. About 2,403 Americans were killed at Pearl Harbor, up to 250,000 were killed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The U.S. to date is the only nation that has used atomic weapons on a civilian population. Which is ironic because we seem to be the nuclear police force of the world. We’ve used atomic, biological weapons on civilians. When we look at other countries as being barbaric that is something to remember.

Looking back at 1945 we celebrated the wars end. Our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers could come home and be a family again. I don’t think we were really celebration the death of so many civilian people.

My grandfather was in the pacific fleet during WW2 and he never forgave the Japanese. I think for him it was the friends lost and he saw the war with a front row seat. I remember him with his new 1969 gold LTD telling me… never buy one of those JAP cars.