GROVE CITY (WCMH) — Wednesday marks the 75th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
A priceless piece of history from that time period lives in central Ohio, at the Grove City Historical Society. It’s from the day Japan surrendered nearly four years later.
NBC4 spoke with a Grove City veteran who served as a high-speed radio operator during World War II. Bill, who didn’t want us to use his last name, held onto the original ticker tape translation announcing Japan’s unconditional surrender for 75 years.
“It was the first message of any kind between Japan and the United States,” said Bill.
The worn document from September 2nd, 1945 is on loan to the Grove City Historical Society after being neatly tucked away in Bill’s closet for decades.
“He kept this as a memento and it’s very historic,” said Don Ivers from the Grove City Welcome Center and Museum.
It reads in part, “This is the first direct message of any kind between Japan and the United States since that infamous day December 7th, 1941.”
It announced Japan’s surrender and that the war was over.
“I knew I was getting to be going home, that’s all I know,” said Bill.
At 94, he remembers a lot about the war. But, said he’s no war hero. He lost too many friends on the battlefield.
“There are so many people that are not on the frontlines and they’re all heroes to me,” said Ivers.