On September 2, 1945, President Harry S. Truman proclaimed Victory over Japan Day, or V-J Day, after Japan formally surrendered aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The surrender document ended World War II in the Pacific and brought the global conflict to a close. Millions of Americans celebrated, and images of crowded streets in cities like New York and San Francisco became enduring symbols of relief. The end of the war also began a major demobilization of U.S. forces. At the same time, it marked the start of a new geopolitical era in which the United States emerged as a leading superpower.
