79 Years ago today... Hiroshima
- Thread starter crimsonaudio
- Start date
A tough but necessary decision. Truman had never heard of the bomb before FDR died. He did what had to be done and never looked back.
Some ( perhaps many? ) of us on this board in all likelihood would not be here were it not for that.
To me that was the biggest political/moral/ethical decision that any President has ever had to make. It's easy for people today to set back and judge others for past decisions, but had they been on a ship waiting to march into the jaws of death they would've had a different take. I had one Grandpa clearing airstrips in the Himalayas at this time and another shooting down Nazi planes in Europe. It was time for them to come home after the sacrifice.
We are still the only nation to use an atomic weapon like this on another. I fully blame the Japanese hierarchy for the 1st one...not sure the 2nd was necessary but that has been debated ad nauseam ever since.
It may be that our having the bomb(s) has kept other countries from using theirs. I sure hope so...
It may be that our having the bomb(s) has kept other countries from using theirs. I sure hope so...
Sad day in world History, so many unnecessary deaths. And I 100% support the decision to use the weapon. Such destruction. I hope in the remaining history of the world we never see another atomic weapon used in war. Sadly, I believe it will be used again. Probably multiple times.
Japan didn't budge after the 1st and probably thought it was a one and done. The 2nd convinced them otherwise.
It's not really that simple either. The Emperor wanted to surrender earlier, but some in the military didn't. Like all political choices, there were several factions all fighting for their own goals. Part of the problem is very few in their country had ever actually heard the voice of the Emperor, so getting the "we surrendered" information out was tenuous at best.
And like all wars, the initial damage before the surrender was really only the beginning of the suffering for many.
Surrender of Japan - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
After the firebombing of Tokyo I don’t see this as any worse from a moral standpoint. Truman gets blasted for his decision but it happens even if FDR is still alive.
I read an essay Truman wrote sometime in the 1960s. He outlined his reasons for what he did and why he did it. The last sentence has always stuck with me. Paraphrasing it said “At the time I felt it was the right thing to do and I feel even stronger about it now”.
I read an essay Truman wrote sometime in the 1960s. He outlined his reasons for what he did and why he did it. The last sentence has always stuck with me. Paraphrasing it said “At the time I felt it was the right thing to do and I feel even stronger about it now”.
I recently listened to the accounts of several of those involved in bringing the bomb(s) to Tinian. The flight training involved for the Enola Gay crew prior to taking off with the bomb, the flights to Heroshima and Nagasaki and the actual dropping of the bombs themselves. The ultimate bombing of Nagasaki was fraught with risk. If I recall correctly, it was the secondary target and due to dense cloud cover over both targets the entire flight crew was at risk of being forced to drop the bomb in the ocean and running out of fuel before reaching their secondary landing point. It was touch and go to say the least.
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I think because we have such instant communication capabilities now that we tend to not understand communication during that time period. Even different countries had different communication capabilities at that time. It wasn't like we had the internet or even the "red phone" for instant messaging between leaders. There was a 3 day delay for the response which was probably plenty of time for a response. Those are just my thoughts. If we had waited longer surely their would've had the defenses against a Japan invasion by the US could have been bolstered. Just my thoughts.
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If anyone is interested and has the time the series on the fall of the Japan is located here on YouTube. I believe the story of the dropping of the atomic bombs begins in video 3 of the playlist. The series continues with the signing of the surrender documents aboard the Missouri and MacArthur's arrival in Japan. This entire channel on WWll memoirs could be organized better but I believe YouTube is the only place it is available.
Last week being alone I listened to the story of the Doolittle raid on Japan. More on that later.
The Fall of Rising Sun
Embark on an exhilarating journey through the climactic end of World War II in the Pacific with this electrifying YouTube video. Uncover the gripping events ...
www.youtube.com
This post is on the Doolittle Raid. I was surprised that when the war with Japan began President Roosevelt was pressing to have an attack on Japan by large bombers early on. He pressed George Marshall and Hap Arnold, then head of the Army Air Corp. on the possibility of flying from Manchuria or the free portions of China under Chiang kai-shek. That wasn't deemed possible but from that sprang the idea of flying long range bombers from an aircraft carrier. The group knew they needed an Aeronautical Engineer and a great pilot to put this plan together and Doolittle with his achievments was the man for the job. The rest is the result of superb planning by the navy, Doolittle's leadership and the sheer bravery of the aircrews to pull off this incredible raid to the heart of Japan.
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