It was August 15, 1945, the day after the Japanese surrender during WWII, that President Harry S. Truman spoke these words to a crowd outside the Whitehouse.
This day was the true end of a grueling battle. Soldiers were told to stop any offensive movements, American military units getting ready to deploy were stopped and granted special liberty, and federal employees throughout the U.S. were granted a special two-day holiday.
The formal signing of the surrender by both parties occurred aboard the battleship USS Missouri (BB 63), Sept. 2, 1946. It was signed by both the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Imperial Headquarters. Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz signed on behalf of the U.S. Military and Gen. Douglas MacArthur signed on behalf of the U.S. Government.
This formal peace agreement took place just days after the second bombing on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, which was a definitive event that lead up to the Japanese surrender.
Even with this in mind, the effect the Battle of Midway had on the Japanese fleet ultimately turned the tides of the war in the Allies favor. During the battle, Japan lost a total of four carriers, a heavy cruiser, 200 aircraft and about 3000 troops.
It was because of this battle that the Japanese would never again achieve the naval dominance they possessed at the beginning of the war.
Many brave Americans made the ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of Midway, but it is because of their bravery that the Allied Powers departed victorious.