August 6, Japan

R

rgp

Well-known Member
Location
Milford,OH
Yesterday was of course the 75th year anniversary of the Atomic bombing of Hiroshima Japan, and in two days [the 9th] of August will be the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki .

Taking many lives ....... While at the same time, saving many others.

Just thought it should be noted.
 

I was thinking about that all day yesterday. I've asked people who were alive then how they felt about it and they all said they were so happy! It ended the war. but how could they be happy about all the deaths? How could they? Did it really prevent more deaths? I'm torn about this. It was so horrible! Yet, as an American, shouldn't I be happy about the decision? It affects me in ways I can't explain.
 

Gaer said:
I was thinking about that all day yesterday. I've asked people who were alive then how they felt about it and they all said they were so happy! It ended the war. but how could they be happy about all the deaths? How could they? Did it really prevent more deaths? I'm torn about this. It was so horrible! Yet, as an American, shouldn't I be happy about the decision? It affects me in ways I can't explain.
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The [at that time] and many today, experts say, that opposed to a continued ground war ........ yes it indeed saved lives.
 
If I remember my history, I believe that it was estimated that over 200,000 lives were lost during the bombings. Even today, there are still some people feeling and dealing with the effects of the bombings.

It was a shame that it took two atomic bombs to end a war and that so many lives were lost.
 
I was 7 yrs old when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. We were not at war. It was a massive surprise attack. Even after 80 years, the sight of the Japanese flag - the large red circle on a white field - disturbs me. I had nightmares about them for years and I was no closer to the actual war than small town Virginia.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were horrible as were the rest of the atrocities of WW II and anyone alive during that time is still affected in some way (holocaust survivors, for instance) but I think any mention of the dropping of the atomic bombs should also mention Pearl Harbor.

And no, I'm not trying to equate my slight uneasiness at the sight of a piece of fabric with the very real and lasting damage done to so many others. Just sharing my thoughts.
 
gennie said:
I was 7 yrs old when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. We were not at war. It was a massive surprise attack. Even after 80 years, the sight of the Japanese flag - the large red circle on a white field - disturbs me. I had nightmares about them for years and I was no closer to the actual war than small town Virginia.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were horrible as were the rest of the atrocities of WW II and anyone alive during that time is still affected in some way (holocaust survivors, for instance) but I think any mention of the dropping of the atomic bombs should also mention Pearl Harbor.

And no, I'm not trying to equate my slight uneasiness at the sight of a piece of fabric with the very real and lasting damage done to so many others. Just sharing my thoughts.
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Well, I was going to mention that ...... had they not ..... we would not have either.

But IMO that quickly becomes a circular argument, that seldom a truthful answer is agreed upon.

But, again IMO it is fact.
 
I watched a two hour documentary on the building of the bomb. I was shocked to learn so many cities were involved in it and in some cases entire villages/communities were built from the ground up. My guess is there were about twelve cities involved. As the war casualties soared on both sides our lawmakers felt it would be a disaster to wait any amount of time to drop it. The reason being Americans would be furious at American losses when we had the bomb and did not drop it. Iwo Jima was a good example of the tragic number of soldiers killed on both sides. The projected number of human casualties for fighting a conventional war without the bomb would have been in the millions on both sides. Japan's military leaders were strongly opposed to surrender even after the second bomb was dropped.
 
Satellite TV has had several program depicting how 'evil' and 'far to quick to drop A-bombs...' Warmongers

We were not adults in this era, but every civilian who had loved ones in the Pacific
Theater were gravely concerned about the pending invasion of Japan.
If it saved American Lives=Drop as Many A-Bombs as required.
Warmonger-You bet.
 
In 1941, the Japanese & Americans were on a collision course, war was almost a certainty . The US was drifting closer to a war with Germany. Japan decided to knock out the US's naval power in Pearl Harbor. The Japanese thought that the US, facing a probable European war, would sue for a negotiated peace, than to fight a war on two fronts. A negotiated peace was always the aim of the Japanese, not 'winning' a war. By 1945, that concept of making the war so bloody that the US would sit down at the negotiation table was the last ditch effort to make the invasion of Japan a pure blood bath for the Americans. For both the Americans and Japanese, the invasion would cause millions of deaths. The Japanese were willing to sacrifice their citizens, property, fortune, their all to somehow negotiate with strength. The bombs did not hurt the Japanese decision to accept unconditional surrender.
 
I clearly recall the bombs being dropped. My father was truly upset that it had come to this but a Japanese invasion would have spelled disaster for both sides. President Truman wasn't happy at having had to make this decision, but, by doing so, it brought a halt to WWII. No one was jumping for joy at the number of dead and maimed, they were just happy that deplorable war was over and done with. Man never learns it seems.
 
My dad was part of the occupational forces after WWII in Europe, he was told early on that [there was something in the works] {or something to that effect} and if it did not work, he should be prepared to go to the Pacific .

I think about that from time to time , glad he came home, otherwise I might not be here. :)
 

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