Posted on 08/20/2005 12:10:23 PM PDT by doug from upland
Victory in Japan Day VJ Day Announcements and Celebrations
CLICK ON THIS LINK AND HEAR 17 MINUTES OF VINTAGE RADIO
On August 6th, 1945 the United States dropped an atomic bomb over the city of Hiroshima. This would be the first of only two times the bomb was ever used against another country. Earlier, the Truman administration found that the Japanese were not accepting of the Potsdam Declaration which demanded an unconditional surrender by Japan. The Japanese had asked Russia to act as intermediary for them at the Potsdam Conference. However, unbeknownst to the Japanese, the Soviet Union was about to enter the war against them. Consequently, Stalin did not convey all of the questions and concerns the Japanese had. One major question was the preservation of their Emperor as head if they surrendered. But this was never made clear to Churchill and Truman and the harsh statement coming from the conference is what resulted. Because Japan was not forthcoming, Truman decided to drop the bomb (Japan was unaware of this power).
When the Japanese were still debating what to do, the United States, hearing nothing from Japan, dropped a second atom bomb on August 9th over the city of Nagasaki. Still the world heard nothing, though the Japanese began talks directly with the United States. After suffering so serious a blow, the public could not understand why the Japanese did not immediately surrender. Apparently, there was much consternation among Japanese leaders as to what to do. Some wanted immediate surrender, others wanted to continue fighting, still others feared for their Emperor. Finally, realizing they had no other choice but to hope for the best, the Japanese accepted the terms of Potsdam.
Initially, a report on a signing of surrender was released by the United Press International prematurely. Word was apparently in, but it was not yet indicated as official. The clip here is the announcement, and then the rescinding of the announcement.
The sound montage included here begins with an interruption of a big band remote - Cab Calloway and his Orchestra appearing at the New Zanzibar in New York City. It is approximately 1:50 in the morning of August 14th, Eastern War Time. The previous day had brought a lot of false VJ Day reports prompted partly by the hesitation of the Japanese. The Mutual Network which was carrying the band remote interrupts with news wire reports that the Japanese had accepted the unconditional surrender. But nothing official is yet forthcoming. This report gives a nice historical view of just how tentative the radio news services relied on the wire services. You can even hear a man in the background getting increasingly excited as more information is forthcoming. But because it was so tentative, there is some dead air as the network struggles with incoming information, finally returning to the big band remote.
From this point the montage moves to approximately 9:30 a.m. EWT in Chicago via the NBC news affiliate with reporter Don Eldridge reporting live from Chicago's loop. We can hear the moving traffic as reporter Eldridge tells of the current calm after some early morning activity. But he also describes the early gathering of some citizens and the news of surrender is being anticipated.
As NBC begins to move to live reports around the country, the montage switches to early evening via CBS as the news services along with the world awaits official word of acceptance from the Allied leaders. The CBS reporter like the earlier Mutual reporter is tentative, not sure whether to return to regular broadcast, or to hang on. An announcement is imminent. Suddenly, we are switch to Robert Trout in London for the announcement has arrived. The ebullition in the newsroom gives us a picture of how much the world waited for the announcement. Immediately the report is cut in by the local stations, in this case WKRC in Cincinnati, to bring a local picture to start of celebrations.
Reporter Tom McCarthy of WKRC, Cincinnati, in a commentary reminiscent of Gabriel Heatter, provides eloquent words reflecting what the world felt. We hear the start of the celebrations that took place in virtually every city in the United States as well as many world capitals. The montage focuses on Cincinnati. Finally, we switch to another eloquent announcer, NBC's Ben Grauer, as he reports from Times Square inside a remote vehicle. He is right in the thick of it and radio is there to catch it all.
This is when a war should end --- WHEN WE WIN IT!
I think you will enjoy this. It starts out slowly and then gets rolling.
Announcer --- There's is a little gray-haired lady with a happy smile, somewhat toothless, but all over her face.........
Thanks Doug from upland. I fear we shall never again see this country victorious in a war. There are now too many Americans that hate America and would rather see us lose. With very few exceptions America was a much better place in 1945 than it is in 2005. Though it causes me to tear up, I still thank you.
We are not going to let the enemies abroad and here at home defeat us. We simply will not let it happen.
At the end of August, the President will be in San Diego commemorating VJ Day. Who wants to charter a bus in the L.A. area and go on a road trip?
God knows I hope you are right. Never again do I want to feel the shame I felt as I watched that helicopter taking off from the American Embassy in Saigon. Oops that's Ho Che Minh City. But I do fear see it happening again. Only difference is, this time Americans will be among the millions slaughtered.
Rhode Island is the only state in the nation to still honor VJ day...but probably not for too much longer. Every year more and more WWII veterans are passing away and the liberal left tries to derail the Holiday. Sad thing is most younger Rhode Islanders feel it is just an extra day off to go to the beach.
Daughter of a proud veteran of WWII.
Rhode Island is the only state in the nation to still honor VJ day...but probably not for too much longer. Every year more and more WWII veterans are passing away and the liberal left tries to derail the Holiday. Sad thing is most younger Rhode Islanders feel it is just an extra day off to go to the beach.
Daughter of a proud veteran of WWII.
Yes, the American public was much more intent and intense during WW II and all had sacrificed in personal and financial terms. The same is not true today.
The op-ed pice in a recent edition of the Washington Post by conservative, Bush-supporting Princeton economist, Professor Uwe E. Reinhardt: "Who's Paying For Our Patriotism," notes that only a tiny, minscule fraction of the American public has sacrificed anything in the present war. It's a highly intelligent and well written piece (nothing less would be expected from Prof. Reihardt) whose son is a Marine recently deployed on his second tour there. If you support the present conflict, as do I, it should be read and considered as a step on the path to recognition that a popular war is one in which we each have something to lose and for which we all sacrifice; not just the force members and their families.
My sister and I ran out of the Tulare Theater and all the horns and train whistles were blowing, everyone was yelling and waving their arms. We ran over to the Standard gas station across the street where our friend Sally was working. Sally stood just looking up at the sky and her eyes were filled with tears. We also began to cry because we knew she had lost her loved one in the war that just ended.
I experianced that war.
BUMP! Thanks for the ping. The broadcast media were very clearly rooting for AMERICA to WIN and there was no doubt of it.
Contrast that to today. Truly Gramscian.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/959544/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=gramsci
That was back when there were far fewer enemies among us than currently, and there was no debate about what it meant to be a patriotic American.
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