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08/09 Thu. Atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, Kyushu, Japan.
Aircraft from fast carrier task forces of the Third Fleet (Adm. W. F. Halsey) attack airfields and shipping in northern Honshu and Hokkaido, Japan. Battleships and cruisers (Rear Adm. J. F. Shafroth) bombard industrial targets at Kamaishi, Honshu, Japan. Battleship, cruiser, and destroyers bombard Wake Island, Russia declares war on Japan.
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8-10-45 Got first news of Japs attempt of peace offer.
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08/10 Fri. Aircraft from fast carrier task forces of the Third Fleet (Adm. W. F. Halsey) attack shipping, airfields, and railroads in northern Honshu, Japan.
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8-12-45 PORTLAND fished 100 yrds of our stbd. bow in Okenewa.
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From the ship's log of the USS PORTLAND (CL-CA-33):"From 8 May until 17 June, she participated in the bombardment and capture of Okinawa, departing 17 June for upkeep at Leyte. At Buckner Bay, 6 August, she commenced upkeep and training. With the termination of hostilities, PORTLAND was designated flagship of Vice Admiral George D. Murray, Commander, Marianas, who was to accept the surrender of the Carolines. The ship steamed to Truk Atoll and there Admiral Murray, acting for Fleet Admiral Nimitz, accepted the formal capitulation of the senior Japanese military and civilian officials in ceremonies on PORTLAND."
08/14 Tue. Japan accepts the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration and agrees to surrender.
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, USA, is named Supreme Allied Commander to receive the Japanese capitulation and conduct the occupation of Japan.
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8-15-45 At 0804 got word Japs had excepted peace tearms.
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08/15 Wed. Before the announcement of the end of hostilities is received, aircraft from fast carrier task force (Vice Adm. J.S. McCain) raid airfields in the Tokyo area, Japan; heavy airborne opposition is encountered. Naval task group (Commodore R. W. Simpson) is established to liberate, evacuate, and extend medical care to Allied prisoners of war in Japan.
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8-17-45 Left Okenewa with ST LOUIS.
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Escorted the ST. LOUIS to Subic Bay, arriving on 20 August.
From the ship's log of the USS ST LOUIS (CL-49):"In early August, she anchored in Buckner Bay, where she remained through the end of hostilities on 15 August. Postwar duties kept the cruiser in the Far East for another two and one-half months. In late August, while in the Philippines, she was assigned to TF 73, the Yangtze River Patrol Force."
08/17 Fri. Gen. Prince Higashikuni becomes Prime Minister of Japan and forms a new cabinet.
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8-20-45 Arrived Subic Bay.
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08/20 Mon. Naval task force (Rear Adm. O. C. Badger) is formed to assume responsibility for the occupation of the Yokosuka Naval base, Japan.
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8-21-45 Left Subic Bay with an ARL.
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Depart Subic Bay for Okinawa on 21 August escorting the CORONIS.
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8-25-45 Pulled into Buckner Bay rejoined ORLINDOLF 95.3. (We were supposed to of taken the NEW JERSEY to Tokio but orders were fouled up.)
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From the ship's log of the USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62):"During the final months of the war, New Jersey was overhauled at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, from which she sailed 4 July for San Pedro, Pearl Harbor, and Eniwetok bound for Guam. Here on 14 August she once again became flagship of the Fifth Fleet under Admiral Spruance. Brief stays at Manila and Okinawa preceded her arrival in Tokyo Bay 17 September, where she served as flagship for the successive commanders of Naval Forces in Japanese waters until relieved 28 January 1946 by Iowa (BB-61). New Jersey took aboard nearly a thousand homeward-bound troops with whom she arrived at San Francisco 10 February."
Reached Buckner Bay 26 August. The ship remained at anchor there until 7 September.
SEPTEMBER 1945
09/02 Sun. Japanese surrender documents are signed on board the battleship MISSOURI (BB-63) at anchor in Tokyo Bay, Japan. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur signs for the Allied Powers, and Fleet Adm. C. W. Nimitz signs for the United States. Army forces are landed at Yokohama, Japan, by naval task force (Rear Adm. J. L. Hall). Truk in the Caroline Islands, Pagan and Rota Islands in the Marianas Islands, and the Palau Islands surrender to United States Naval and Marine officers on board naval vessels.
One of the first vessels to return to the United States after the Japanese surrender, Boyd departed Okinawa 7 September got underway with USS Patterson for States, passed Mississippi on way out. 10 September reached Saipan about 6 pm, went on to Eniwetok. Departed for the west coast of the United States for overhaul.
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9-13-45 Entered Enewetok. Left Enewetok.
9-16-45 Crossed International Date Line.
9-18-45 Entered Pearl Harbor.
9-19-45 Left Pearl Harbor.
9-25-45 Under Golden Gate - Mare Island.
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Boyd underwent overhaul at Mare Island Navy Yard (25 September-28 November).
We think being on picket duty was a fitting climax to our job out here. I'm sure we did our share and now that its all over, we're proud to have been part of that great destroyer outfit that took everything the Japs could throw at them and came back for more. (now I'd like to get home).
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9-27-45 Went on leave.
9-31-45 Recieved our oders for grand and glorious United States of America.
The Captain announced it over the address system.
10-1-45 Made SM 1/c took charge of S.M.
10-7-45 Left Okenewa with PATTERSON DD392 for U. S. A. !!!
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From the ship's log of the USS PATTERSON (DD-392):"She departed Buckner Bay 8 September, touching Saipan, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor, enroute to San Diego, Calif., arriving 26 September. The following day she got underway to transit the Panama Canal for the eastern seaboard. She arrived in the New York Naval Shipyard 11 October and decommissioned there 8 November 1945."
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10-17-45 Returned from leave.
11-2-45 Transfered from U.S.S. Boyd to Treasure Island.
12-8-45 Left T.I.
12-13-45 Arrived Boston via Pullman for discharge.
12-16-45 Discharged-
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