August 2010 marks the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II. Of the 16 million Americans who served during the war, more than 400,000 died. The U.S. government has been unable to recover, identify, and bury approximately 79,000 war dead as known persons. Today, more than 72,000 American World War II service members remain unaccounted for.
Remembering the End of World War II
“Remember Dec. 7th!” — 1942 Office of War Information poster promoting a sense of common purpose during World War II.
By Yuri Kageyama
Aug. 15, 2010
TOKYO — Asia paused on Sunday to remember Japan’s surrender to the allied forces which ended World War II 65 years ago, as the Japanese prime minister apologized for wreaking suffering on the region and the South Korean president said Tokyo’s remorse was a step in the right direction.
From Nanjing — the site of a 1937 massacre by Japanese troops — to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which has drawn outrage from Asia for honoring Class A war criminals, people prayed for the millions who died in war and expressed hopes for peace.
The reckoning with history has taken special meaning this year as it comes amid a global effort to realize a world without nuclear weapons, a resolve backed by President Barack Obama. …
In Australia, World War II veterans and representatives from New Zealand, the U.S. and Asian countries were among more than 300 people gathered in downtown Sydney to mark the anniversary.
The group placed wreaths at the foot of the Cenotaph war memorial to mark Japan’s surrender and observed a minute of silence.
More than 27,000 Australians were killed or died as prisoners of war during World War II. …
——–
TAKING THE KIDS FISHING
Matt, 13, holds a rainbow trout 4-year-old Paddy caught in Big Watab Lake near Avon, Minn., Aug. 14, 2010.
———
FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — August 15, 2009
NATO HQ in Afghanistan Attacked
A car burns after a suicide blast outside NATO’s Afghanistan headquarters. (Photo credit: CNN / Getty Images)
One year ago today, I reported that five days before Afghanistan’s presidential election, a suicide car bomb exploded outside the main gate of NATO’s headquarters in Kabul, killing 7 and wounding 91 in the biggest attack in the Afghan capital in six months.
———
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Two Years Ago — August 15, 2008
Starting the day’s walk in Anoka, headed for Blaine, Lino Lakes, and Centerville.
Two years ago today, on the 32nd day of my 2008 campaign against U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, I resumed my Sixth District walking tour, setting out on foot from Anoka and proceeding to Blaine, Lino Lakes, and Centerville.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
August 17th, 2011 at 2:22 am
[…] World War II Ends — 65 Years On […]