December 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, December 18th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/18/2012
4 September 1945 autograph letter signed by Naval Ensign James Keating aboard the U.S.S. Dunlap, containing an eyewitness account of the 3 September 1945 surrender ceremony for control of the Bonin Islands held on the ship. Lieutenant General Yoshio Tachibana signed on behalf of Japan and Commodore John H. Magruder, Jr., signed for the U.S. just one day after Japan surrendered on board the U.S.S. Missouri. The letter reads in part: ''...The whole party...came back to the fantail for the signing ceremony...Other destroyers were patrolling about us, P-51 Mustangs were flying overhead, Navy and Marine planes were swooping low over the ship...our crew was...at rigid attention -- and there in the midst of this hub-bub was this beaten, little Jap general signing everything that was placed before him...It was a real thrill. The end of the war was brought home to me -- the treacherous enemy was doing things our way -- and offering no complaint...'' Lot contains other pieces of correspondence postmarked at later dates and a DVD with scanned images of letters. 8'' x 10.5'' 14 page letter shows overall toning, light soiling and separations along folds, else very good condition.
14 Page Eyewitness Account of the Japanese Surrender -- ''...this beaten, little Jap general signing everything that was placed before him...''
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