[August 18, 2025] I’m disappointed that I missed the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II; Victory over Japan, VJ Day. More fanfare in the media was given to how bad the New York Yankees baseball team is this season, and I failed to pay sufficient attention. Looking at articles written, which I missed, more attention was paid to VE Day, perhaps because most of us can relate better to those battles taking on the evil Nazi war machine.
From PowerLineBlog, they bring on one of their old friends, William Capenni, a retired engineer and a 33-year Air Force/Air National Guard fighter pilot. For context, he served in the same Texas Air National Guard as President Bush. He helped expose the politically motivated stupidity and slanderous CBS News “New Questions on Bush Guard Duty” story.
Bill Campenni deserves praise for capturing the overwhelming exuberance of our nation when word reached us that the Empire of Japan had surrendered. Of course, that meant that those overseas, many of whom would die if an invasion of the Japanese homeland had occurred, would be coming home soon and safe.
“Today — August 15 — marks the 80th anniversary of the surrender of Japan. Actually, it was August 15 in Japan, but more accurately August 14 on this side of the Date Line. And yet today I can find little notice or commemoration of this date. It was probably the zenith of American power and patriotism, which has been an exponentially decreasing quotient ever since.
There is a personal component to this day. I was five years old visiting relatives in suburban New Jersey, and my mom decided to take me over to the City to see a Giants game at the Polo Grounds. (We were Yankee fans, but they were out of town that day.)
On the subway segment to the Jersey PATH trains after the game, mom decided to stop at a now long-defunct Childs restaurant in mid-town for a quick supper. So we get off at the Times Square subway stop and come up to the street to be greeted by probably a million, give or take another half million, people yelling and dancing and celebrating. It was a terrifying scene for a runty little five-year-old. I asked mom what was going on and she read off the moving electric news sign on the Times building “The War is over! The War is over!”
When you see that historic photo of the million(s) jammed into Times Square on V-J Day, yep, that’s me right there. No, not that sailor guy – that little speck over by the copy of the Statue of Liberty at the far end.
Even for a little kid, the importance of that moment was not lost. My uncles and cousins and neighbor dads were coming home. (My own dad had already done his share getting his right lung and seven ribs blown out years earlier in the Argonne Forest.) The V-Mails with censored mark-outs would become real birthday cards and letters. The Blue and Red Stars in the windows would be retired to the family treasure chest. The ration books would be tossed.
Most of all, there would be no more telegrams opening with the dreaded “I regret to inform you . . .”, no more stars in the window being changed to Gold.
That euphoria and pride and thanksgiving that August now seem so far away. Save for some minor excursions in outposts like Grenada and Panama, we no longer have wars where V-days can be applied. Even where and when our warriors have been successful on the battlefield, in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, their victories have been squandered by the media-political complex into ties and losses. It seems like we even squandered the Cold War victory.
Today I can’t conceive of a scenario where that euphoria, that unity, and sense of accomplishment of a difficult job well-done will ever come again. A unified nation willing to take on all challenges is so remote. Now our adversaries are not only without, but within, foreign and domestic. A major political party and its near-half of the citizenry seems intent on destroying all that is good to slake its thirst for power.
Today, a scan of the media shows nearly none of the that historic day will be remembered or solemnly celebrated.
Few will have the joy that I was so lucky to experience on that wonderful day in 1945.
It was “God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “Over There” in one glorious medley. You should have been there.”
VJ Day was a big deal for my family on both sides. My dad and mom were both 16 and attending the same High School. Being the youngest in their families meant that their brothers were in the war or training for it. The sacrifices ordinary Americans were making might have been small, but every effort counted, and the nation was on a war footing.
Bill has an incredible story to tell. And, I do think he is right about America. We are a failing state, at least in many ways that could be avoided. We must develop an appreciation and maturity for the history of America and what we’ve experienced in building the greatest nation on earth.
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Please read my books:
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America is great. And there is no moral peer.
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I’m with you Paulette, we should always remember that America is great, the greatest nation on earth, and not because it is the most powerful (economically and politically) because it is, but because we are the best there is morally. We do the right thing. And despite the horrors of Communism and Socialism, we stand above it in our Constitutional Republic (not a Democracy except in the broadest sense). Stay the course, America. Let us all practice telling the truth, adopting responsibility, and helping those who cannot help themselves. That is how to be the best there is.
Yep, Paulette and Pink Cloud are spot-on.
Never ever forget.
Right both times, Jason. When we forget our past, we are doomed to repeat it, meaning we failed to,learn from our mistakes. That may seem like a cliche but is still very much true. I’m one of the big big fans of Gen. Satterfield’s leadership blog. I read all the articles and try to apply these ideas, or I should say these “rules” of wisdom that have come from the lessons of those wiser and more experienced than us throughout time. Jason keep commenting.
Thank you, sir, for remembering.
Nailed it with this last sentence, It was “”God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “Over There” in one glorious medley. You should have been there.”
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Salute to all our veterans.
🇺🇸 America the best nation on earth and that is a lot of why we were pivotal in winning WWII. We pulled together the Allies against Japan and Germany and the Axis powers. That’s world leadership. 🇺🇸
American Girl, pow, got that right. And although we’re not perfect, we realize we’re not perfect, and that is why we are all tasked – implicitly – with the moral task to find corruption and mistakes and fix them or at least tell others so they can fix those problems. This is why America works so well. We all must work toward making ourselves better because America is built upon the individual, not group identity or victimization. This is good for America 🇺🇸 and why we are the best.
I enjoyed Bill’s comments in the article. Thanks for sharing.
My grandfather and two uncles served in WW2, one in Europe (my uncle Jeb) and the rest in the Pacific in the Marines. All came home safe. But if there had to have been an invasion of the Japanese homeland, I might not even be here today. Who knows what will have happened Ed except more deaths which would have been assured. Gen. Satterfield was spot-on with his article, “The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb” https://www.theleadermaker.com/the-decision-to-drop-the-atomic-bomb/
Navy Vet, thank you also for your service. And you’re right about the atomic bomb and very good article explaining why dropping the atomic bombs was the right decision because, in the end, it resulted in LESS lives lost both for Japan and the Allies.
So true, despite the Leftist hysterics otherwise.
I’ve discovered over time, that Leftists/Liberals operate at a highly emotional level, with little regard to reality. That’s why they say the world is all perception. Don’t try to argue facts, because they have “their facts” and nothing you can do will change their minds. This is so since they believe they are superior to you and me and therefore you and me are automatically wrong and they are automatically right, no matter what the issue might be.
NEVER FORGET