大象传媒

My dad, Charles Hladky, was on the AOG-36 Ontonagon which was a Mattawee Class Gasoline Tanker.
I have pictures of him and one other guy holding a Japanese banner or flag that has a sun, water and what appears to be people in the water on it. Have any of you seen such a flag?

This is an excerpt from a letter that was written by my dad, Charles Hladky, to his sister from Okinawa, telling her of the day they were told the war was over. The letter is dated September, 10, 1945. He had been there with the Coast Guard when the end of the war was announced.

鈥淲ell the war is over now and they have lifted censorship. I鈥檓 sure glad this thing is over with as we really seen hell out here. So don鈥檛 ever let anyone kid you by telling you that the 鈥淐oasties鈥� didn鈥檛 do their part in this damn war. And they have seen tougher times as our ships are all so damn small.

Well I suppose they really cut loose in Chicago on V.J. Day. We were unable to do much celebrating out here but when we first received the news, this place looked like all hell had broke loose. But all in all those yellow bellied Japs just cant鈥� be trusted. We received the word about 8 p.m. and at 10 o鈥檆lock we had an air raid and the Battle Ship Pennsylvania was hit. She was only a few hundred yards from our tub. Those suicide planes were hell and they really threw plenty of them at this place. Those Japs sure did a lot of stupid things out here. There are still a lot of them hiding over on the island. I suppose they don鈥檛 even know the war is over and our boyas are still picking them off. 鈥�

Sadly my dad died when I was only 7 years old and I am looking to learn as much about his life as I can so that I can know him better.

Blessings and thanks to all who have served our country.

J. Sheridan

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