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Friday/Saturday/Sunday, June 26-28, 2020 | B4 Weekend Daily News WEEKEND Austin Montgomery/Beloit Daily News Beloit resident Bob Jackson holds an American flag while enjoying the nice weather on the Willowick Assisted Living in Beloit on June 23. Jackson, 97, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was present for the Japanese surrender on Sept. 2, 1945 in Tokyo Bay aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. WWII veteran remembers time aboard the U.S.S. Missouri By AUSTIN MONTGOMERY Jackson said the crew of 2,700 men were Staff Writer informed that the ship would play host to the Japanese and Allied command staffs for the ELOIT — U.S. Navy veteran signing of the official surrender document. Bob Jackson is an eyewitness That day, Jackson said the mood of the crew to one of the most influential was subdued and serious since such high-rank- days in modern history: the ing commanders would be on deck. All sailors Japanese surrender aboard were told to wear their dress uniforms and the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo were assigned places to view the signing cere- Bay on Sept. 2, 1945. mony. Jackson, 97, of Monroe, Leading up to the saysB he feels lucky to Japanese arriving on the have been on the iconic ship, Jackson added that he battleship that fateful day was worried of a possible in 1945, and the way he attack by Japanese forces. recalls memories of his That fear was not unfound- naval service, it is as if he ed, with U.S. Gen. Carl A was honorably discharged Spaatz revealing after the last week. war that U.S. planes had “I fell through the been ready with bombs to cracks,” Jackson said. “I halt any attack, according was one of the lucky ones to the National Museum of who came back with all American History. their fingers and toes. So “We were more excited many things had to fall Jackson, 97, of Monroe about getting out of there into place for me to be at the time because we where I was.” thought there might be a He joined the Navy last-minute attack on us,” in 1942 at 17, meeting up Jackson said. “Everyone with “Mighty Mo” while “ was on edge. We had all the she was being built in I fell through the cracks. I firepower in the world it New York before shipping felt like backing us up just out to the Pacific front was one of the lucky ones in case.” after spending time in who came back with all their From his position on the technical training. fingers and toes. So many fourth deck, Jackson said “I wanted to join the he was able to see both U.S. Navy because I didn’t things had to fall into place and Japanese commanders want to sleep in the mud,” for me to be where I was. come aboard and leave the Jackson said. “I knew that ship. I was going to have a dry “It was very solemn, bed or that I would be — Bob Jackson, Jackson said. “It was all swimming.” U.S. Navy Veteran business. We knew once As SAO-Second Class, the Japanese were on board Jackson was responsible that we were well-covered. for repairing optics on It didn’t take too long, and the ship, anywhere from ” they were only on board for binoculars to submarine periscopes and rangefinders. Through his spe- about an hour.” cialized role, he said he was able to have his The U.S.S. Missouri stayed in Tokyo Bay for own sleeping quarters. a few days before sailing back to New York. “The tradesmen like me had it pretty good,” And how does one spend time following a Jackson said. “We were the lucky ones who had world war? By taking a train from New York good duty. We needed every man we had.” About a week ahead of the surrender, See Jackson, B6 Associated Press archives The photo collage at left shows multiple images taken during negotiations on Sept. 2, 1945 aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay, the site where the Empire of Japan surrendered unconditionally to the Allied armed forces, ending World War II. U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur is shown leading the signing ceremonies after a Japanese delegation arrives; and Gen. MacArthur is shown handing off the pen to British Lieut. Gen. Arthur E. Percival after signing formal surrender papers. Numerous sailors and photographers are seen aboard the battleship during this historic moment. Among them was Bob Jackson, now age 97, who still recalls the events of that day in great detail. Weekend Daily News Friday/Saturday/Sunday, June 26-28, 2020 | B5 ENTERTAINMENT Briefs ‘Antebellum’ brings racial justice ‘World’s Toughest ‘Big Bang Theory’ star joins DC Race’ in Fiji debuts to create superhero science book call to reopened movie theaters NEW YORK (AP)—“The Big Aug. 14 on Amazon Bang Theory” actor Mayim Bialik is teaming with DC By AARON MORRISON LONDON (AP) — Bear Grylls Entertainment on a project that Associated Press was brought to tears by the joins superhero power to the determination of competitors on power of science. NEW YORK — Back in “World’s Toughest Race: Eco- Bialik will collaborate with March, filmmakers Gerard Challenge Fiji” as they raced popular comic writers and Bush and Christopher through jungles and over moun- illustrators on a story collec- Renz gathered their artist tains, battling exhaustion and pain. tion that features Batman, friends and a few journal- The series’ new 10-episode sea- Superman, the Flash and others ists at Manhattan’s mem- son, hosted by Grylls and with 66 in search of such mysteries bers-only social club, Soho teams from 30 countries, will debut such as why polar ice melts House, for a screening of Aug. 14 on Amazon Prime Video, and what can be found at the their first feature-length it was announced Wednesday. The bottom of the sea. project, “Antebellum.” episodes were taped last fall, before “Flash Facts” will come They wanted a con- the coronavirus pandemic hit. out in February and provide structively critical reac- The nonstop race with 330 com- “a helpful bridge between the tion ahead of the planned petitors was held for 11 days and S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, spring release of the Associated Press across more than 400 miles. It was Engineering, and Math) lessons film—a psychological This image released by Lionsgate shows Janelle Monae in difficult to see racers drop out after taught inside the classroom and thriller about a Black a scene from “Antebellum.” The film, due out Aug. 21 from spending so much time and energy how these principles affect our woman who finds herself Lionsgate and starring singer and actress Monáe, will chal- in preparation, Grylls said. everyday lives,” DC announced. trapped in a pre-abolition lenge audiences over the failure to reckon with the legacy “But at the same time, those past. Bush, who is Black, of slavery, the directors say. that endured, whether or not they Elizabeth Banks to drive ‘Magic and Renz, who is white, won, it wasn’t really about the hoped the project would Once the virus seized to be released Aug. 21 winning,” he said. “This is an expe- School Bus’ onto big screens contribute to a national up the economy, forcing by Lionsgate, will debut dition with a stopwatch, is how I NEW YORK (AP)—“The reckoning over the lega- the closure of movie the- during the height of a always kind of see this, and just to Magic School Bus” has trav- cy of slavery and white aters and all but pushing reckoning in America complete it is a huge achievement.” eled everywhere from Pluto to supremacy in the U.S. Hollywood film studios when people are increas- “I unashamedly wept at times, inside the human body. Now “To witness how truly into a mad dash to salvage ingly showing a hunger seeing the effort and what it meant it’s going somewhere new: the moved they were by the elaborate release plans, for works that light a to these people,” said Grylls, an big screen. film, some even to tears, Bush and Renz pulled path toward racial jus- adventurer who starred in the sur- Scholastic Entertainment was the very first time their film. They said they tice. Driven in part by vival series ”Man vs. Wild.” will make “a feature-length, we realized the potential didn’t want what was nationwide protests over Grylls noted the field’s diversity, live-action hybrid film” based impact ‘Antebellum’ will intended to be a big the- the recent deaths of Black including the first fully African on the animated TV show that have on society and the atrical film relegated to people at the hands of American team competing inter- ran from 1994 to 1997. Elizabeth long-deferred conversa- a streaming platform, as police and vigilantes, it’s nationally. Another American Banks will play the manic sci- tions that need to be had several movie studios did a moment that positions squad includes Mark Macy, a past ence teacher Ms. Frizzle. on race in America,” last spring. “Antebellum” as the only Eco-Challenge competitor who “The Magic School Bus,” said the filmmakers, who For Bush and Renz, summer release that has since been diagnosed with centers on a group of children wrote, directed and pro- patience may have proven speaks both to the moment Alzheimer’s, and his son, Travis. who board a yellow school bus duced the project.