Charlotte Allen

(Maiden Name: Coan)

U.S. Navy

Charlotte was in Littleton, Colorado, living with her mother when she herd the news that the war had ended. She herd it over the radio. She waiting for her husband who was stationed in Alaska.

"Thank god its over." is what she was thinking at the time. She had thought her husband was going to come home right away to meet their newborn but didn't come home a month after and wasn't even able to talk to him until he came home. Her son, Donald was ten months old. Her mother and herself were delighted and celebrated at home.

Her mother was a widow, and had two sons that were also in the war.

Her one word to describe the time would be Happy. Her brothers served in the army. One brother, her oldest, was medically discharged. Her other brother developed a skin disease from wearing wool and was eventually discharged. They were both in Fort Jackson Colorado.

Florence Anderson

(Maiden Name: Boyd)

Other (Navy Recruiter for women), U.S. Navy

My name is Florence Anderson. I was in one of the first classes of enlisted Waves from California. I served 3 years. After training at A&M College, my friend and I were transferred to San Franciso as recruiters. We drove a 50 ft. trailer from city to city within 12 naval districts. Women were referred to us from different social clubs, and we would meet with them to try and recruit them.

Just after the bombs were dropped, we were aware that it was about over. Everyone was so excited to see what would happen.

I heard the war was finally over when someone in the office received a phone call. Thousands of people were suddenly filling Market Street, pouring out of all the buildings. It was a solid crowd of people, a really exciting time. People were kisssing and dancing and celebrating in the street, all day and all night. It was absolutely wonderful to know it was over. I had lots to do to close down the offices, but those were good times. It was a wonderful time of transition.

My fiance and I had a long engagement. We were engaged when he went to the Phillipines with the National Guard. He was taken as a prisoner and did not return for a year. He was then shipped to Manchuria and put to work in a factory. They were treated horribly and many died on the death march.

After the surrender, when he was able to come home, he said the white hospital ship was the most beautiful site he ever saw. It was a very exciting time, we were married two months later.

After we married, we had a lot of free time before my husband was discharged so we traveled to keep in touch with the friends we had made.

Coming home to Salinas was hard because so many had died in the death march. Over 100 men went and only 47 came home. There was a lot of sadness mixed in with the celebration.

Submitted by:
Linda A. Laurie
Poway, CA - United States

Relationship to Storyteller:
Adult volunteer

Joe Aranda

Other (U.S Air Forces)

We were happy that the war was over and we were going home. We knew the end of the War was coming, it was only just a matter of time. As a result, we were quite relaxed and knew we weren't going to fight.

And the war ended quite suddenly and I was at Attu, one of the many small islands of Alaska. Afterward, I didn't think it was going to take seven months for me to go home. I was quite disappointed that it would take that long and thought I was going to go home in a hurry after the war ended.

During that time period, I was thinking of the future--my job, a wife, civilian clothes, and be free. There was no place for me left in the service, few of us had. We were just looking forward to going home. That's what most of us wanted.

Submitted by:
Cuong K. Le
San Jose, CA - United States

Relationship to Storyteller:
Youth volunteer

Leo J. Astgen

U.S. Navy

Served In the Aleutian islands campaign, St. Mihiel troop transport, as Ship's Cook First Class. After that, went to San Francisco and left the ship. Was sent to Norfork, Virginia, then to New Orleans and was assigned to a new ship, USS Osmus DE 701.

Went to the Atlantic Ocean for our shakedown cruise and then to Boston. Then we got orders to go to Panama and on to the Pacific Ocean through the Canal.

Served 3 years in the South Pacific from the Philippines to Okinawa. Had the surrender papers signed aboard by the Japenese before the final surrender on the Missouri.

News had come to us about the war ending and waas greeted by all.

The first thing we knew we were heading back to the States and we started counting the points for discharging us.

I had enough so was ready to get home.

Many more experiences, too much to write about.

Thanking you

Sumie Augst

Civilian

On December 7th, I had seen the bombing of the Arizona from a height of 5 stories on the roof garden of the House of Mitsukoski where I worked at the time.

On the day WWII ended, I was working as a sales person in a jewelry store in Honolulu.

When "the war has ended" was shouted, my boss told me to take the rest of the day off.

There was so much excitement and we all joined the parade that took place right away.

My feeling when the war ended was that of happiness because I knew then my only brother would be coming home from Europe where he was stationed with the 442nd Battalion boys.

I felt sadness too for all the soldiers who gave their lives.

Frank Austin

U.S. Marine Corps