Members of Dr. Leon Harold Bombet’s family cherish the letter written to his parents on the day World War II ended.

Sixty-six years ago, World War II ended when the Japanese accepted the Allies’ terms of surrender on Aug. 15, 1945.

That evening, 21-year-old Leon Harold Bombet typed a letter to his parents, Julius “Buddy” and Rebecca “Tootsie” Bombet, from the USS Formoe, the Navy destroyer escort on which he was stationed in the Pacific Theater. He described the historic events of the day. His parents received the letter at their home on Park Boulevard and cherished it until their deaths.

After the war, Leon Bombet returned to Baton Rouge, attended Tulane University and graduated from LSU and, in 1952, from the LSU School of Medicine. He practiced pediatrics in Baton Rouge for almost 50 years with his older brother, Dr. Charles Newman Bombet. They were later joined by Charles Bombet’s son, Dr. Ronnie Bombet, and several other pediatricians. Leon Bombet was known for his work in the areas of alcoholism and addiction.

An avid LSU fan, he served as president of the “L” Club, team physician and as counselor and physician to numerous athletes.

He died May 29, 2011. At a memorial service June 1, his granddaughter, Leah Newman Friedrichs, read the letter Bombet had written to his parents the day the war ended.

The Letter:

August 15, 1945

Dearest Mother and Dad:

Mark this hour in your little black book – and please don’t ever forget it – August 15, 1945.  Peace on earth has come again to this war torn world.  To-day started off like any other day of Naval life in wartime.  I was up at 0715, breakfast at 0730, and I took the “Deck” at 0745.  I had the 8 to 12 watch in other words.  At 0800 a radioman raced up to the bridge with a message in his hand and tears in his eyes.  I didn’t have to read the message, but I did, and there it was in black and white – “The President of the United States has announced that the Japanese have accepted the Allied demands for surrender” – unquote.  The skipper came up shortly thereafter and put the “word” out to the men on the P.A. System.  Well, you can imagine what a tremendous reaction there was.  Think how happy the people back home are and then use simple grade school multiplication – that is, multiply their and your happiness by 100 and your product will be the feelings of every Navy man in the Pacific today.  The men went wild and I don’t blame them a bit.  Someday in the near future when the censorship regulations are lifted, I will tell you where we were when we got the first news some days ago that the Japs were thinking it over.  I can however, tell you that we were once again back in the rearward area – the Philippines, and that’s no sarcasm.

There is a lot I should be able to say to-nite, and I’m actually chucked full of things that I would like to say, but, once again I find myself at a loss for words.  I guess I can sum the entire thing up about like this – this is the greatest day of my life, and I know it must be also for you and Dad.  After all, I realize that it has been just as tough for you two as it has for me.  To-nite we steam through the silent, calm waters of the Pacific, our hearts, our souls, and our minds are once again “at ease.”  America has fought and won a great victory.  I hope the peace to follow will be as great.

Your devoted Son,

LEON

Ens. L. H. Bombet

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