USS MISSOURI The Iowa-class battleship was the last to be built in the U.S., at the New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Missouri launched on Jan. 29, 1944 and commissioned on June 11 of that year. Decommissioned in 1955, it was re-commissioned in 1986 and saw action during the first Gulf War in 1991. Its final decommissioning was March 31, 1992.

The bloodiest war in history concluded with a short, simple ceremony on an overcast morning in Tokyo Bay. The Instrument of Surrender was signed aboard the USS Missouri, named after the home state of President Harry Truman, who ordered the atomic bomb attacks that brought Japan to the surrender table. The Missouri anchored in approximately the same location as the ship carrying American Commodore Matthew Perry, who first anchored in 1853 and persuaded Japan to end its self-imposed isolation and open up to the modern world. Advertiser library photos ABOVE: General Douglas MacArthur, with representatives of the Allied powers behind him, reads his speech calling for an end to war and "a world dedicated to the dignity of man." ABOVE RIGHT: Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz signs the surrender documents for the United States. BELOW: Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu, at the surrender ceremony. (Numbers and letters indicate signatories to the Instrument of Surrender, far below).

PREPARING FOR THE JAPANESE DELEGATION

The timing of the Japanese delegation's arrival aboard the Missouri was crucial; General MacArthur wanted them in place just before 9 a.m. Practice runs were conducted, using sailors with mop handles strapped to their legs to mimic the wooden leg of the Japanese emperor's representative, Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu (in top hat, with cane in photo above). The tests showed it would take 90 seconds. It actually took about seven minutes for the Japanese delegation to take its place. The ceremony began at 9:02 a.m.

A DAY TO REMEMBER

Highlights of Sept. 2, 1945 aboard the USS Missouri. The events described on this page are based on the oral history of Stuart S. Murray, captain of the Missouri when the surrender took place. To read a complete transcript of his account, visit www.ussmissouri.org/coll_MurryHistory.htm.

We, acting by command of and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan, the Japanese Government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, hereby accept the provisions set forth in the declaration issued by the Heads of the Governments of the United States, China, and Great Britain on 26 July 1945 at Potsdam, and subsequently adhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which four powers are hereafter referred to as the Allied Powers.

We hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and of all Japanese armed forces and all armed forces under the Japanese control wherever situated.

We hereby command all Japanese forces wherever situated and the Japanese people to cease hostilities forthwith, to preserve and save from damage all ships, aircraft, and military and civil property and to comply with all requirements which may be imposed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers or by agencies of the Japanese Government at his direction.

We hereby command the Japanese Imperial Headquarters to issue at once orders to the Commanders of all Japanese forces and all forces under Japanese control wherever situated to surrender unconditionally themselves and all forces under their control.

We hereby command all civil, military and naval officials to obey and enforce all proclamations, and orders and directives deemed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to be proper to effectuate this surrender and issued by him or under his authority and we direct all such officials to remain at their posts and to continue to perform their non-combatant duties unless specifically relieved by him or under his authority.

We hereby undertake for the Emperor, the Japanese Government and their successors to carry out the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration in good faith, and to issue whatever orders and take whatever actions may be required by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers or by any other designated representative of the Allied Powers for the purpose of giving effect to that Declaration.

We hereby command the Japanese Imperial Government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters at once to liberate all allied prisoners of war and civilian internees now under Japanese control and to provide for their protection, care, maintenance and immediate transportation to places as directed.

The authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government to rule the state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper to effectuate these terms of surrender.