As Veterans Day approached, I scoured my mind trying to think of something that would be appropriate to honor this important day. I am privileged to have a father-in-law who served in World War II in the Pacific (New Guinea, Philippines, Indonesia) and has kept and shared many of his personal affects, letters and photographs from that time. One thing I have is a newsletter that was distributed to his Battalion with an article describing the surrender of a Japanese Admiral to his infantry. The story is written by an interpreter who witnessed the actual surrender. I have maintained the actual content as written by the authors.
Digging through all the documents and photographs reminded me again of all the men and women who have served our country over the years and how grateful I am for their service.
September 22, 1945
The Weekly Scream – The Newsletter of the Second Battalion
Japanese Admiral Gives Up To 167th Infantry (an eyewitness account)
A Japanese interpreter who resides at the F Company outpost played an important part during the surrender ceremony that took place at that outpost. He translated all questions and answers which were being fired back and forth between Lt. Col. Mathews, C.C. 167th Inf., and Rear Admiral Dei of the Japanese navy. His name is Mr. Nakao. He has never been to the U.S.A. However he has a sister who attended the University of Michigan. His family seems to be intellectually inclined. Two of his brothers are medical professors. One of them was at Halmahera at the time of the Morotai beachead.
Mr. Nakao was editor of the “Davao Times” during the Japanese regime. He also had a position on the “Japan Times”. The story is in his own words and nothing has been changed. He calls his story DRAFT and the following is what he wrote:
Biao and Company F of the U.S. Army Force led by Lt. O’Flaherty would forever go down on record in view of the prominent part they played in bringing about peace in Mindanao.
On September 16, at noon, Biao witnessed the complete surrender of Rear Admiral Dei, Commander of the 82nd Naval Force of the Southwestern Fleet of Japan with 6500 subordinates stationed up in the hills.
The dramatic scene was highlighted when as the token of formal surrender the Admiral tendered his sword and revolver over to Lt. Colonel L. Mathews, Commander of the American Forces, after the Admiral’s formal announcement of surrender of himself and his men in accordance with the Imperial Rescript decreed by the Emperor of Japan transmitted through the Supreme Commander, Vice Admiral Ookaochi of Manila.
The first utterance made by the Japanese admiral was his sincere appreciation that the latter commander took in dropping from the air some medical supplies only 24 hours after the interview by the Admiral’s proxy with the Colonel.
This was returned by further assurance on the part of Colonel Mathews that the Admiral could count on the best attention of the American Forces in furnishing the Admiral’s men with the medical supplies, foodstuff and shelter and that whatever and everything he could do.
Colonel Mathews also promised that he would send his surgeons over to the hills to see the actual condition of the sick and wounded now being housed at major stations, which would involve at least one week’s wading through mud and jungles and this was earnestly and gratefully appreciated by the Admiral.
Incidentally Admiral Dei expressed his confidence that in view of the close contact being maintained among his men while widely scattered in wide areas, that complete withdrawal of his men can be realized in the shortest possible time.
The same old problem of wearing Japanese sword by the officers because they are their personal affects and the agreement between General MacArthur and Central Government of Japan was taken up, but safe keeping and eventual return seemed to have settled the matter.
Mindanao with all her bounties of the Creator is now going to be a truly and literally the land of bliss and happiness freed from any ominous war cloud and last tuft of which is about to waft away with the complete withdrawal of the Japanese Forces from the upland regions!
