Japan’s 1945 WWII Surrender on the USS Missouri Battleship

by Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

(Washington DC) As the historic location of Japan’s surrender in World War II, the USS Missouri battleship needs little introduction. That defining moment and the ship that was its stage have a permanent place in the hearts, souls, and minds of Americans.

Not surprisingly, the USS Missouri is now a famous museum ship in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where it serves as an emblem of sacrifice, heroic intensity, and service for future generations to admire and understand.

The Missouri has without question earned its place in history.

The ship supported combat efforts in the Pacific theater during famous battles such as Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Video Above: Carrier Survivability

Even though it was built in the 1940s, the USS Missouri went on to support U.S. military efforts in the Korean War. The deactivated ship was brought back in the 1980s during the Reagan-era initiative to deploy a 600-ship Navy. It addressed the Navy’s need for an Iowa-class battleship, and it cleared mines and provided fire support during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.