The last imperial conference of WWII took place on the
morning of August 14, 1945, Japanese time. The Allied terms were accepted on August
15 and the announcement of surrender was made by the leaders of the Allied nations.
The official Instrument of Surrender was signed by the
Japanese on September 2, 1945 aboard the USS Missouri as it was anchored in Tokyo Bay.
Between the time of the acceptance of the terms of surrender August 14 and the signing of the surrender September 2, Japanese garrisons throughout
the Pacific surrendered to US Forces.
The first Pacific Japanese garrison to surrender was that
at Mille Atoll, in the southeastern Marshall Islands, August 22 on board the Destroyer
Escort USS Levy DE 162. The U.S. flag was formally raised over
Mille on August 28.
While the surrender ceremony was being held aboard USS Missouri, island garrisons were continuing to surrender. USS Amick DE 168
accepted the surrender of the Northern Palau Islands in the Caroline Islands and the Japanese surrendered Rota, Marianas, in a ceremony aboard USS Heylinger DE 510 on September 2.
USS Levy DE 162 held her second surrender ceremony when the Japanese surrendered Wake Island on September 3.
Jaluit Atoll was the second Japanese territory in the
Marshall Islands to surrender. The surrender took place September 5, on board the USS
McConnell DE 163.
On September 6, Admiral S. Kmada, I. J. N.,
surrendered unconditionally all Japanese forces and territory in Maloelap Atoll aboard USS Wingfield DE 194 anchored off
Toroa Island.
On September 8, (a Japanese holiday celebrating the bombing of Pearl Harbor) Admiral
Kamada and his officers surrendered their swords to the Commanding Officer of Wingfield.
A landing force from Wingfield occupied Toroa Island on September 10, and raised the
U.S. flag over Maloelap Atoll.
September 11 saw the surrender of Japanese
garrisons on Ponape Island. USS Farquhar DE 139 was present and Capt. D. E. Walters posted a surrender notice on the island. Rare photos
tell the story of this historic event.
From September 12 to December 31, 1945, other Japanese garrisons on bypassed islands scattered throughout the western Pacific and on the Asiatic
mainland surrendered.
