President Truman points out Japanese Emperor's signature on official surrender documents. U.S. President Harry S.

President Truman points out Japanese Emperor's signature on official surrender documents. U.S. President Harry S. Truman (wearing glasses) points to Emperor Hirohito's signature on the official Japanese surrender documents at the White House in Washington, the U.S. capital, on Sept. 7, 1945. The historic papers were signed by Japanese and Allied leaders Sept. 1, and were flown to Washington from Japan by Colonel Bernard Thielen who acted as officer courier for the U.S. War Department's General Staff. In the group are (left to right): U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson; U.S. General of the Army George C. Marshall. U.S. Army Chief of Staff; President Truman; Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet, and Dean Acheson, U.S. Acting Secretary of State.