WAR IS OVER!

THOSE THREE WORDS WRITTEN ON THE SIDE OF A RATION BOX, KICKED OUT OF A C-47 INTO THE RICE PADDIE, IS HOW THE WORD GOT TO US ON THAT AUGUST DAY IN 1945.  WE HAD A HINT OF THE END WHEN AN ARTILLERY SPOTTER JOINED OUR INFANTRY COMPANY TWO DAYS BEFORE  AND TOLD US ABOUT THE NEW BIG BOMB THAT HAD BEEN DROPPED ON JAPAN. WE WERE AFRAID TO BELIEVE HIM.

WE WERE MILES AWAY FROM ANY HIGHWAY NEAR THE VILLAGE OF ANTIPOLO ON THE ISLAND OF LUZON, WHEN THE WORD CAME TO US, OFFICIALLY.  WE WHOOPED AND SHOUTED.  THIS MEANT WE WOULD BE HEADING HOME, INSTEAD OF MAKING A DEADLY AMPHIBIOUS LANDING ON THE JAPANESE ISLAND OF HONSHU. 

WE REMOVED THE CLIPS OF AMMO FROM OUR CARTRIDGE BELTS AND SHOT IT ALL OFF EXCEPT ONE CLIP,  THREW ALL OUR GRENADES OVER A CLIFF, AND CELEBRATED. IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

THAT WAS MY V-J DAY IN AUGUST OF 1945.