mas24 Loc: Southern CA

74 years ago, on August 9, 1945, a second Atomic Bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. The first one was dropped on Hiroshima, three days earlier. The bombs that were dropped were authorized by President Harry S. Truman. President Truman was unaware of the development of the bomb, while he was Vice President. FDR never shared the secret with him. Not even 5 Star Army Generals Douglas MacArthur, and Dwight D. Eisenhower were told about it. However, just about a month later, the dropping of that second bomb on Nagasaki, resulted in General MacArthur to conduct the full surrender of Japan, aboard the Battleship USS Missouri. Along with other high ranking US military personnel. The War Department, as it was called then, had informed President Truman, that an Invasion Force of one million men, would be necessary to occupy Japan. Including Air Raids. And that casualties would be tremendous. That was the reason President Truman authorized the dropping of the two bombs. The first bomb dropped on Hiroshima did not affect a surrender from Japan. General Douglas MacArthur was put in charge of Japan, to maintain the peace, and to rebuild Japan. Emperor Hirohito was exempt of any war crimes. However, General Tojo, the Military Leader of Japan, was found guilty of War Crimes, and executed. The US has never used the atomic bomb, or any type of a nuclear weapons, against a hostile nation since Nagasaki. There were lessons learned from the use of those two bombs. Mostly negative. The excessive skin burns, and radiation sicknesses were overwhelming. The results remained Top Secret for over a decade from the general public. Which is why the US doesn't want hostile dictatorship nations to have such weapons. They would be most likely to use them, first. And, that of course would result in retaliation. By all means.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

As politically incorrect, and probably insensitive as well, on Aug. 6 I have a bowl of mushroom soup commemorating the beginning of the end of WWII in the Pacific.
--Bob

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

There was another reason that significantly motivated Truman’s decision to drop the bombs. The allies were concerned about Russia’s aggressive dominance of Eastern European countries as the war there ended. There was a genuine concern that Russia saw a post war influence opportunity in Japan as well. Therefore, the allies felt it imperative to end the war with Japan before Russia established a presence. Speculation and intelligence that Russia planned soon to declare war on Japan at any time was seen by many as a prime motivator to move quickly. That declaration came on August 8th.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

My Dad was in the Pacific war. As a frogman, he would have probably been one of the first in the invasion, one of the first killed and I wouldn't be here writing this... I was stationed in Japan in the Navy 30 years later. I saw both drop sites, they were very sobering, and I have no regrets about either one of them. I was also stationed in the Philippines. If you want to see, as closely as possible 30 years later, the Japanese in action in the war in the Pacific, go to the Philippines. I travelled the Bataan Death March Trail. It was very sobering, and I have no regrets about either bomb.

OZMON Loc: WIGAN UK

America should be ashamed of dropping those bombs, it was a crime against humanity. the Japanese were willing to surrender if the Americans would let them keep their emperor.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

That's non-sense. We are proud of it and would do it again if need be...I hope. What the Japanese did in WWII was a crime against humanity. I suppose the bombing of Dresden in Germany while pulling the Brits' fat out of the fire was also a crime against humanity? You're welcome by the way.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

OZMON, war in itself is a very hostile and inhumane means of solving differences. The Japanese were quite inhumane in their approach to conducting hostilities, Nanking and The Bataan Death March come to mind. These are only a couple of the best-known examples.

As pointed out, we were also dealing with the possibility of Russia invading Japan. For whatever reason, we did not want that to happen. Personally, I don't think we really looked at them as allies during the war. We were just fighting a common enemy.

The idea of a land invasion of Japan would have been extremely costly on both sides. Thus, it was a difficult, but necessary decision that Pres. Truman made and apparently a correct one, in that it ended things quite quickly.

Do I like the concept of civilians being bombed like that? Not really. But, what other courses of action could we have taken?
--Bob

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

The Bataan Death March was just one of the many atrocities that the Japanese Army inflicted on the civilians of the Philippines. They stole all their food and money. Threw them out of their homes, and occupied them. And raped the women, incessantly. I heard this from Phillipinos, who are now deceased. Who immigrated to California, after the war was over.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

President Truman agreed to the surrender terms, set forth by the Japanese Imperial Army, that Emperor Hirohito would still be Emperor, and not charged with War Crimes. Perhaps reluctantly? Truman was an Officer, and served in WW1. The Emperor was free to leave his Royal House as he set pleased. He had to play second in authority though, to General MacArthur. He was fully aware his authority would not exceed MacArthur's decision makings. In fact, the two saw each other very rarely. If, not at all. The two took a photo together. MacArthur height over the Emperor was quite noticeable.

Paladin48 Loc: Orlando

Paladin48 Loc: Orlando

Soooo... wasn't what the Japanese did ... the "Rape of Nanking", Bataan Death March, wholesale slaughter of civilians and even cannibalism of captured pilots ... was any of that a "Crime Against Humanity"? ASKIN' FOR A FRIEND!!!

Bill 45

That is out and out bull shit. Pressure was build very fast from all side for Truman to end the war with Japan. American solders in Germany were in open mutiny about been ship to Japan. American people wanted their solders back home now. So Truman had to end that war fast. Would using The A-Bomb end the war? Truman had no idea if it would work. Remember when talking or writing about using the A-Bomb in WWII. Your information has to be before 8:00 AM Japan Time August 6, 1945. NOT AFTER.
Was Truman wrong, no way. That war had to be ended.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

From now on...I will be joining you from however far away with a delicious bowl of mushroom soup every 6 August. I'll write you a note when I do it.