Fort Bragg, North Carolina

The officers and enlisted men of the 97th Infantry Division reassembled at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, during the first few days of August 1945. At Fort Bragg, soldiers prepared baggage and equipment for travel to Fort Lawton, Washington. They received orientation for duty in the Pacific and a very limited amount of training. On August 6 an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later, Nagasaki became the target of the second atomic bomb. Within a few days, Japan surrendered. For the soldiers of the Trident Division, Victory over Japan (V-J) Day, August 15, was an occasion for great rejoicing. If the soldiers of the 97th had to go to Japan, it was better to go as an occupation force. On August 19 units began to leave Fort Bragg for the west coast.