A Soldier Remembers Japan 1945-1946

Lt. John Roberts reading Yank Magazine

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Hiroshima, Ground Zero

November, 1945. Shot during flight from southern Kyushu to Tokyo. Photo taken by Lt. Roberts.

Hear no Evil/Speak no Evil/See no Evil. 15th Century, Nikko Shrine.

December, 1945. CAU7 Photo Unit Pretenders below: Lt. Roberts, Cpl. Ebele, Sgt. Van der Veer. Us Signal Corps Photo by Cpl. Wallis.

Hirohito Adresses Extraordinary Session, Japanese Diet

November 26, 1945. Formal reopening of the Japanese Diet. Hirohito's two-minute speech stressed democracy. My photo unit is in the upper photo. US Signal Corps Photos by Cpl. Wallis.

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Photograph seen around the world. Taken for the Signal Corp by Cpl. David Wallis.

Destruction of Lawrence-design Cyclotron, University Tokyo

Winter, 1945. A part of the elimination of Japanese nuclear physics research at the end of WWII. US Signal Corp Photo by Lt. John Roberts.

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Bronze Buddha, Cast in 13th Century, Kamakura

CAU7 members, Lt. Roberts, Cpl. Wallis. Time set photo by Lt. John Roberts.

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Nara Diabutsu or Buddha.

Spring, 1946. Original cast bronze Buddha dates from 752. It suffered much damage in early local wars and fires. It was recast in 1692 and received much post WWII work on the head (replacement?) after this photo taken.

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Fire Bomb Damage, Industry

Summer, 1946. Gas storage and factory damage, Yokohama. US Signal Corps photo by Lt. John Roberts.

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US Army Vehicle Inventory

Summer, 1946. They've all gone home! Airstrips were used to store US Army vehicles with the rapid demobilization of American soldiers and their return to the US at WWII's end. Much of the equipment was dumped into the sea. US Signal Corps Photo by Lt. John Roberts.

Imperial Hotel, Frank Lloyd Wright, Down-Town Tokyo

US Army and Japanese traffic on the city's main street. US Signal Corps Photo by Lt. John Roberts.

Fourth of July Parade 1946, Tokyo.

First Cavalry Division parades in front of the Imperial Hotel. Frank Llyod Wright's famous bit of Japanese architecture was torn down except for the left wing that was moved to another site in Tokyo. US Signal Corps Photo by Lt. John Roberts.

Fourth of July Parade 1946, Tokyo.

Lt. Gen. Eichelberger and Allied Commanders of WWII salute the troops of the First Calvary Dicision. US Signal Corps Photo.

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Kids Everywhere Love Jeeps

Winter, 1945, Photo done in wood just north of Kyoto.

Kinkakuji or Golden Pavillion, Kyoto

Spring, 1946. Burned by a crazed monk in 1950 and rebuilt in 1955. It is now covered in gold leaf. Photo taken by Lt. Roberts.

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Ruins of Rocket Aircraft Launch Site, Nagoya.

Summer, 1946. Site serviced by a funicular railway. US Signal Corps Photo by Lt. John Roberts.

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japan monkeys

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Radiation Damage

Spots caused by radiation exposure. Photo by Lt. Roberts.