While on watch in the main battery Director, word was received that the Japanese were attempting to negotiate peace terms with the United Nations through the Swiss Government. They were willing to accept the POTSDAM DECLARATION providing HIROHITO be allowed to remain in power. At this time we were steaming with a fueling unit about 350 due east of Tokyo.

On the mid-watch in Control, word was received that the United Nations would accept Japan’s offer for peace on the provision that the Emperor would be allowed to remain at the head of the Japanese Govt. in the role of a Puppet Ruler subject to the orders of the Allied Commander in Chief. We were about 300 miles off the Southern Coast of HONSHU ISLAND, steaming with HALSEY and his mighty fleet.

After many hours of anxious waiting, our dreams came true. At midnight we were steaming 270°T towards Japan’s very Mecca, TOKYO, about 200 miles from the Eastern coast of Japan. We were making preparations for a gigantic air strike on TOKYO itself. At 0415 we went to General Q., as our Carrier based planes made ready for their mission. Shortly after the planes had been launched, Com third fleet sent out an order to cease the air strikes. Many planes were over their target when pilots received this order. At 0800 those grand and glamorous words “the war is over” were received we changed course 180°R and took on returning planes. Combat air patrol was still busy knocking down Japanese snipers who still insisted that the war was not over. The crew was deliriously happy, but a taut watch was kept in readiness for any Japanese treachery.

After several days of supplying, fueling, and invasion planning, we were on our way to the land of the Rising Sun. Having been chosen by HALSEY as an escort for his great flag ship, the MISSOURI, we were riding the crest of victory. Our deeds in the Solomons had not been forgotten! As I relieved the mid watch in control, we were only 40 miles from OSHIMA ISLAND. At 0730 I spotted a Japanese Destroyer on the horizon dead ahead. This proved to be the vessel which was carrying the arranged pilots and envoys. Our sister ship left the seven and transferred the Japanese to the MISSOURI The Japanese can fell in on the starboard side of the seven and we proceeded to our destination, SAGAMI WAN BAY. At 0930 we were three miles off the coast of OSHIMA ISLAND which was broad on our port beam. At 0945 the Taylor, being on the port bow of the main body, was the first U.S. warship to enter SAGAMI WAN BAY since the outbreak of the war. At 1220 we dropped the hook only 1600 yards from the beach. The city of KAMAKURA was laying before our very eyes. On the beach hundreds of Japanese were congregating in groups to witness the mighty fleet. Some of the civilians continued to swim and fish as if nothing had happened. Many small factories could be seen a short distance from the beach. Apparently, very little damage had been inflicted on this area. Tall smoke stacks were looming skyward in the industrial section. Radar antennas and bomb shelters were other points of interest. Mount Fujiyama to the South of our berth, presented a beautiful scene. Old Sol sinking behind FUJIYAMA was the most picturesque sunset that I have ever beheld.

The completion of our first full day in SAGAMI WAN entitled us to a movie on the forward. Com third fleet ordered all ships in the bay to turn on their anchor lights for the night – a new city had sprung up on the shores of HONSHU by the mere twist of the switch.

At 0500 in company with the NICHOLAS, O’BANNON, MISSOURI and IOWA, we got underway for our entry into TOKYO BAY. As we turned into the channel leading from SAGAMI WAN to TOKYO BAY, we observed several white flags of surrender flying from Japanese gun emplacements. Mines were thick as flies, but we had the mine sweepers clearing the path for us. Due to the restricted waters, our formation maneuvered into column. The beach was only a stones throw away. Small villages on our port hand were closely watched by our counter battery guns. Barracks, small factories, docks, a Red Cross station proved to be of interest. As we neared the entrance to the Bay, a tall lighthouse rose on our port bow. There small forts of concrete structure were sighted dead ahead. To the starboard of the first island lay an old Japanese can which appeared to have gone aground – it was slightly battered up! At 0930 we were abreast of the lighthouse, and the YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE was visible at 340°R. An old 1908 Class Battleship and a cruiser plus many auxiliary units could be seen through the binoculars. Mine sweepers at work, close in, reported 150 midget subs laying in the naval base. At 0945 the city of YOKOHAMA, with its huge skyscrapers and tall chimneys was visible through a low mist that hung over the beach. About 1000 we at our anchorage and the hook was let go. From our anchorage it was impossible to evaluate the destruction that was brought on Japan’s sixth largest city. Movies were again shown on the evening of 29 Aug, our first entertainment in TOKYO BAY. The lights of San Francisco had nothing on our lighted metropolis off the shores of YOKOHAMA.

Today we can see YOKOHAMA more clearly as our patrolling duty brings us closer towards the docks. On one building the following sign was posted “Welcome to Japan, Sailors of the United States Navy”. Radio TOKYO played “The Stars and Stripes Forever” this morning.

Watched the Marines and Blue Jackets continue their landings at YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE.

1200 Received message that we had been given the assignment of carrying press correspondents from YOKOHAMA to the historic signing of the surrender terms aboard the MISSOURI on the following day. At 1530 we were underway for a dock in YOKOHAMA. Upon entering inside breakwater, a Japanese Jeep carrier listing to port lay off our starboard – apparently it had been hit by a torpedo. Several tugs were laying and another close to the piers. A Japanese hospital ship was tied up to one pier. Before long we had tied up to one of our cans, the BUCHANAN. On one end of the pier a bunch of our sailors were playing touch tackle. Several warehouses lined the pier. After chow the crew and officers were allowed to cross the gangway and roam the pier. Movies were held in one of the warehouses. Fred Goynes and yours truly stepped over on the dock for a few minutes. We found a bunch of our boys trying to start a Japanese truck which was sitting at one end of the pier. I managed to make my way out of the main gate and walked about a block into the city. Still conscious of snipers, I turned about and headed back to the ship. On several of the warehouses, “no smoking” was painted on the bulkheads in English as well as Japanese. The buildings of YOKOHAMA are a great deal like those found in cities in the U.S.

At 0530 correspondents from all the nations of the globe came aboard for transportation to the MISSOURI. There were Russians, Aussies, Dutch, British, Spanish, Chinese, Brazilian, American and four representation from Japanese Domei News Agency. Some of the writers were: Richard Tregaskis of “Guadal Canal Diary”; Weller, author of “Singapore is Silent”; Ross, author of “The Fall of Bataan and Corregidor”; author of “Black Bay”; Bill Wharton of Colliers and Carlyle of the Detroit News. Herb Paul of the Associated Press interviewed several of our men and officers. Representatives of Time, Newsweek, Saturday Evening Post, Liberty, and Colliers were present.

Paul told us that the city of YOKOHAMA had been literally shaved to the ground by incendiary bombs.

I managed to talk to one of the Domei News Reporters. He said that on December 7, 1941 he was in Washington DC. When asked about the atomic bomb, he merely laughed. He said the Russians were sneaks and thieves. A reporter from China (U.S. Associated Press writer by the name of STEEL) asked the Japanese what he thought of the Chinks. The Japanese said, “The Chinese are wonderful people Chang Kai Schech is a great leader.” He refused to answer the question, “Why were the Japanese soldiers turning their backs on our troops as they marched through YOKOHAMA and TOKYO.”

When we finally reached the MISSOURI, it was “Subie” who stole the show. As the press boys passed over the gangway, “Subic” stood by in awe. When the four Domei reporters went over, Subie started to bark and to satisfy his dislike for the Japanese – he snapped at them. The incident proved to be most amusing. Radio Tokyo reported the happening the air that evening.

With the correspondents aboard the MISSOURI, we teamed away to a berth close aboard the “wagon”.

At 0915 we were back alongside the MISSOURI to rush the reporters back to YOKOHAMA so they could make their deadlines. The conference was short and sweet. MacArthur read the surrender terms to the Japanese Envoys, FOREIGN MINISTER MAMORU SHIGEMITSU, and GENERAL YOSHIJIRO UMEZU signed the surrender document for Japan. Then MacArthur signed for the United Nations, followed by ADMIRAL NIMITZ for the U.S., GENERAL HSU YUNG CHAN for China, ADMIRAL SIR BRUCE FRASER for Great Britain, LT. GENERAL KUZMA DEREVYANKO for Russia, GENERAL SIR THOMAS BLAMEY for Australia, COLONEL LAWRENCE MOORE COSGRAVE for Canada, GENERAL JACQUES LECLERC for France, ADMIRAL C.E. HELFRICK for the Netherlands and AIR VICE MARSHALL ISSITT for New Zealand.

My shipmate Lieut. GOLOVIZNIN, who was born in Russia, was given permission to attend the surrender ceremonies as an interpreter for the Russian Correspondents. Walt said that MacArthur was trembling as he read the surrender terms. HALSEY scowled at the Japanese during most of the ceremony. After the Chinese delegate signed, he took a handkerchief out of his pocket, and with a piercing glance at the Japanese, he spit into it.

After we were underway from the MISSOURI, Bill Lyman my roommate came up the deck with two Generals following him. Upon sighting me, Bill asked me to take the big shots down to our room. So I showed the Generals the way to my stateroom. With due respect to rank I hauled out a deck of cards and a pack of cigarettes for my most worthy guests. Had the news boy bring down two cups of “Joe”. Without lingering further, I left the room to my guests. When I got out in the passageway, a high ranking army officer came by and asked me where GENERAL SPAATZ was staying. It finally dawned on me that one of my guests was the world famous TOOEY SPAATZ of the Army Air Corps. I nearly fainted! I never did find out who the other Joe was.

We made the trip from the MISSOURI to the YOKOHAMA dock in 32 minutes. The reporters were on the dock at 1013 and they had to make their dead line at 1030. Some of the reporters didn’t wait until the ship was tied up and the gangway rigged, they first jumped over on the pier. One bunch of reporters saw a jeep with no apparent owner around so they hopped in and started off. An Army Captain who was the driver of the jeep showed up as the press boys drove away. The Captain started running down the pier in hot pursuit, yelling and waving his hands in rage.

An honorary Army General Unit was lined up on either side of the pier, awaiting the return of MACARTHUR and WAINWRIGHT from the MISSOURI. All of the guards were over 6 ft. tall.

As we were the first destroyer to pull away for the dock, a shot on the fifty-yard line was in the offering for us. The Japanese cars, which were to take the Japanese delegation back to TOKYO, were sitting directly across the pier from where we were moored.

Five Japanese soldiers marched across the dock and stood at attention, facing our starboard side. They were a bunch of little shrimps. Their uniforms looked cheap and messy. The five of them all looked alike to me.

At this time, I was standing at attention with Bill Lyman, Fred Goynes and the “E” division chiefs on the main deck. Our men were at quarters directly above us on the superstructure deck. The BUCHANAN, one of our cans moored alongside to port ready to transfer the Japanese delegation to the dock.

Gus, the Exec, came running over to the starboard side and told me to take over as O.D. at the front gangway. I took a position just aft of the bow, CAPTAIN DELAUREAL was forward of the plank, and the Exec was directly opposite the gangway. The first Japanese over was SHIGEMITSU, the foreign minister. He was decked out in a black high hat, tails, and gray and black striped trousers. The old gents face was wrinkled and he walked with a distinct limp. I later found out that he had a peg leg. Next came GENERAL UMEZU who looked straight ahead as he came across. His face was grim and without expression. Following him came a colonel who looked as if he was ready to say, “at anytime”. Eight more Japanese in uniform came past me followed by several U.S. Army Officers who saluted as they touched foot on the deck. The Japanese evidently were ignorant of American Naval Traditions as not one of them saluted upon boarding the TAYLOR. Their uniforms were made of a heavy brown cloth which were not pressed. Their boots were not shined and, on the whole, they looked very messy. After crossing our ship they passed over the dock where cars ready to take them to TOKYO.

After playing my part on the front gangway, I dashed over to the starboard side and witnessed the cars carrying GENERAL WAINWRIGHT and GENERAL MACARTHUR pass between the guard of honor. They zoomed down the dock right past the “Terrible Taylor”. Our men at quarters on the starboard side gave me a real thrill.

With the celebrities gone, the men were allowed to go over on the dock for about an hour. I went for a walk with Lou Bassett. We walked to the main gate and witnessed another spectacular sight. Sixteen of our transports had just arrived in the Bay and the G.I.’s were being shuttIed into the beach on LC’s LCVP’s. A band was playing as the troops came ashore and marched into YOKOHAMA. It was a colorful sight to watch husky, well-equipped men march along in cadence. They were a tough and hardy lot, armed with rifles, mortars, and light machine guns. A few Japanese were standing around with their mouths wide open at this display of might.

I got a better look at the city today, and it looked very modern. We could not see the ruins from the gate. Just outside the gate were several Japanese buses which appears to have charcoal burners on the back of them. These vehicles didn’t even begin to compare with our buses in the station.

On the way back to the ship we snooped into one of the warehouses and picked up some Japanese papers for souvenirs. We saw one incident which made us quite provoked. An old Japanese in uniform (all Japanese regardless of age seem to be in uniform) was talking to one of our Marines. We edged in on the conversation and found out that the man could speak English. He told the Marine to put away his gun, that the war was over. He also said that the Japanese people did not want to fight but that leaders compelled them to wage war. He appeared to be quite happy that the shooting was over.

About 1230 we left the dock and returned to the MISSOURI to pick up COMMANDER STASSEN (former Governor of Minnesota and U.S. Representative at the Peace Conference in Frisco) and LIEUTENANT GENERAL EICHELBERGER, MACARTHUR’S right hand man.

After picking up these two celebrities, we raced back into YOKOHAMA. While drinking coffee in the wardroom, STASSEN confirmed the story that a warehouse full of mail for U.S. prisoners of war had been found on the dock at YOKOHAMA. Some of the letters were dated back three years. We heard many stories of the severe treatment that our POW had taken from the Japanese. STASSEN was in charge Of POW problems. At one POW Camp, the internees had to catch 30 fliers a day to rate chow. In one camp the prisoners were beaten twice a week with rubber hoses and baseball bats. Treatment of our flyers was pathetic.

Having completed our mission of delivering STASSEN and the Lieutenant General to the dock, we fueled and then dropped the hook.

Took EICHELBERGER and a group of reporters from a Dutch Hospital ship into the beach. One of the writers was an Aussie who was aboard the Taylor in August of 1943 when we went into the beach at Vella La Vella to pick up survivors from the HELENA. He told me that the Taylor made all the New Zealand and Australian papers after that job.