Evening star., 1945-09-08

QaTndgeQ.
The soldiers were 1t. William J
Cochrane, Joplin, Mo; Staff Sergt
Charles R. Shopshear, Jackson
Ohio, and Sergt. Morton Copen.
haver, Humboldt. Kans.-all vet.
Grams of the Philippines campaign
They slowly raised the flag up the
3O-foot pole while the band played
The Star Spangled Banner"
Admiral Halsey stood silently a.
attention. A little later, he looked
around the Embassy garden, ther
stared in unabashed concentration
at the flag as if thinking of tn,
long, hard pull which had brought
his Sd Fleet to Tokyo Bay.
| Gen. Macarthur held a stiff
salute until the flag reached the
top. He seemed absorbed by the
| significance of the occasion.
No Japanese were present.
Protected by a hillside, not q
breath of wind ruffled the flag. II
hung Imply from the roof of the
chancellery above blasted chimneys
and ripped iron installations.
Ceremonies End With Prayer.
1t. Col. Eugene Patrick Walsh
of Richmond, Va, stepped forward
and prayed:
"On this historical day, as peace
comes to all mankind, we humbly
entreat the abundant blessings Of
Almighty God on all nations
throughout the entire world. Lone
and valiantly have men fought anc
died to see this day of peace, anc
now may the Lord God order oul
days and deeds in His peace for.
ever and ever. Amen"
AS the prayer ended. Gen. Mac.
Arthur's serious expression gave way
to smile
He shook hands warmly with Gen
Eichelberger and Admiral Halsey
then said to the latter. Let's go
Bill" and led the way to the wait.
ing cars.
The tension broke. Throughout
the crowd sdch comments were
heard as Our job is done; when
do We go home?"
The flag was unfurled in a posi-.
ton where it can be seen over only
few miles of this once great city
now laid waste by fire and bombs
1t hardly could be said the Amer
leans had forced humiliatine
peace on the vanquished foe.
The wen-disciplined troops hao
begun a dignified occupation.
Oklahoman First Into City.
The first reconnaissance groups
entered around 7 am. Is pm
Friday Eastern War Time) and sci
up guard at the Imperial Hotel
to serve for the time being as gen.
eral headquarters.
The first enlisted man to stel
across an imaginary line into Tokyo
was Pfc. Paul E. Davis. "a, driver oil
D Troop, 18th Regiment. He wa:
allowed the honor because of hi:
Pacific service-and because the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of hi.
home county of Ottawa, Okla, hae
offered a $1,000 reward.
The 7th Regiment of the Isl
Cavalry Division, the regiment
which fought the last stand with
Custer on the Little Big Horn
opened the mass entry from Chofu
Few japanese were in the street!
or along the road. They continued
their errands and their work ir
small business places. Seldom die
| they give a glance to the column!
of armored cars, self-propelled fiele
pieces and personnel carriers crowd.
ed with troops in battle gear.
Some $50 men of the honor guaro
reached the Embassy about 8 80 m
by truck. They were from F, G anl
H Troops of the 7th Regiments &c
Battalion.
No Joking or Merriment.
They lined up along route which
had been taken many times in the
troubled days of 1941 by then Am.
bassador Joseph C. Grew and hi.
assistants.
One hundred soldiers lined the
short walk to the loudspeaker, where
Gen. Macarthur issued his historic
order.
Behind the lily pond, in part o1
the Embassy garden, division, regi.
mental and troop colors and Other
American flags were held by sturdy
color bearers.
The cavalry band, arranged tC
Gen. Macarthur left, wore shiny
white helmets and carried polished
instruments.
There was no joking or merrimen1
as the soldiers waited two hours fol
the ceremony to begin. The solemn.
ity of the occasion affected every
one.
Others in MacArthur's Party.
Others in Gen. MacArthur's party
at the flag raising included Gen
George C. Kenney, commander O.
the Far East Air Forces; 1t. Gen
Richard K. Sutherland, Gen. Mac.
Arthur's chief of staff; Mai. Gen
Cloves Byers, Gen. Eichelberger'
chief OF staff, and Brig. Gen. Court
ney Whitney, assistant to Gen. Mac
Arthur.
| There obviously were many bite
memories among the men at tn,
symbolic end of their journey. Th
trim soldiers, with freshly presse,
khaki uniforms, helmets and com
bat boots, with bayonets fixed t,
their rifles, had fought many o
the hardest campaigns of the Pa
cific war, including the battle TO
Manila.
The neighboring district aroun,
the Embassy bears grim evidence o
the war. For several blocks on tw
approaches to the Embassy every
thing is flattened.
The occupation will bring 1900