These three DMSs rigged their sweep gear and proceeded up the channel, slowly and cautiously. Along these coasts were placed an intensive coast defense system of large caliber rifles—the Mac and the other DMSs were fully aware of the possibility that the Japs could seize upon this moment for a last treacherous post-war blow.
Also aware of this were the top navy commanders riding the two big ships who followed the Mac into Tokyo Bay, the Iowa and the Missouri, proud super-wagons, and four war-weary destroyers were the ships selected by Admiral Halsey to enter the bay on that history-making morning.
The minutes passed and nothing happened as the group reached the point where the channel turns abruptly, with Tokyo Bay only a few hundred yards beyond. There was Yokosuka on the left and further down, the buildings of the Yokohama waterfront dominated the horizon.
The group began to break formation, each ship proceeding to assigned anchorages. Before dropping the hook, the Mac steamed up to Yokohama to have a look at the once-busy port. Suddenly a startled lookout yelled, “Take a look at the sign on the tall building dead ahead!” Everyone raised his glasses and read the amazing message. It was “THREE CHEERS, U.S. ARMY U.S. NAVY” painted in white letters 10 feet high near the top of a prominent waterfront warehouse. Eager U.S. POWs had somehow gotten the paint and decorated their prison barracks with the welcoming inscription.
After a good look around, the Mac anchored off Yokosuka and began to absorb the strange new experience—the realization that peace had actually come.
In brief, the Mac entered Sagami Wan, just outside Tokyo Bay, on the 27th, swept the channel ahead of the Missouri and Iowa on the 29th, and at last, on August 29, 1945, at 1945, dropped anchor in Tokyo Bay. Mac remained at anchor until September 4th, only 1,000 yards away from the formal surrender aboard the Missouri.
