It was the morning of August 29 ... the Macomb raced through the gray
waters of Sagami Wan at flank speed. Soon she reached the USS Ellyson,
flagship of the DMS squadron and fell into column astern of her, with the
USS Hambleton bringing up the rear.
These three DMSs rigged their
sweep gear and proceeded up the channel, slowly and cautiously. Along these
coasts were placed an intensive coast defense system of large caliber
rifles—the Mac and the other DMSs were fully aware of the possibility that
the Japs could seize upon this moment for a last treacherous post-war blow.
Also aware of this were the top navy commanders riding the two big
ships who followed the Mac into Tokyo Bay, the Iowa and the Missouri, proud
super-wagons, and four war-weary destroyers were the ships selected by
Admiral Halsey to enter the bay on that history-making morning.
The
minutes passed and nothing happened as the group reached the point where the
channel turns abruptly, with Tokyo Bay only a few hundred yards beyond.
There was Yokosuka on the left and further down, the buildings of the
Yokohama waterfront dominated the horizon.
The group began to break
formation, each ship proceeding to assigned anchorages. Before dropping the
hook, the Mac steamed up to Yokohama to have a look at the once-busy port.
Suddenly a startled lookout yelled, “Take a look at the sign on the tall
building dead ahead!” Everyone raised his glasses and read the amazing
message. It was “THREE CHEERS, U.S. ARMY U.S. NAVY” painted in white letters
10 feet high near the top of a prominent waterfront warehouse. Eager U.S.
POWs had somehow gotten the paint and decorated their prison barracks with
the welcoming inscription.
After a good look around, the Mac
anchored off Yokosuka and began to absorb the strange new experience—the
realization that peace had actually come.
In brief, the Mac entered
Sagami Wan, just outside Tokyo Bay, on the 27th, swept the channel ahead of
the Missouri and Iowa on the 29th, and at last, on August 29, 1945, at 1945,
dropped anchor in Tokyo Bay. Mac remained at anchor until September 4th,
only 1000 yards away from the formal surrender aboard the Missouri.
Additional Information:
By the courtesy
of Rocky Tankersley, below are souvenirs from the Macomb on VJ
Day:
V mail from the Macomb
Envelope
from Macomb postmarked in Tokyo Bay
Return to the USS Macomb
Action
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