Final answer:
Fleet Admiral Nimitz signed the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945, formally ending World War II.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, the Commander of the US Pacific fleet during World War II, was pivotal in the Pacific battles and eventually became the highest-ranking officer in the navy when he was promoted to Fleet Admiral. Nimitz was present at the signing of the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945. The significant event of accepting the surrender of Japanese forces took place aboard the USS Missouri, which was anchored in Tokyo Bay. This act formally ended World War II, bringing an end to years of global conflict.