Yesterday In History
Many of you may or may not have remembered this, but yesterday marked the 60th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
While we may lament the fact this had to happen, one cannot deny that it prevented a catastrophic loss of life that would have been incurred had "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" had not been dropped, and an invasion of the Japanese home islands occured.
I know for a fact that Janice's dad was spared this invasion because of this ... after all, he was a member of the 67th Naval Construction Batallion, responsible for building the runways on Tinian Island from which "Enola Gay" and "BocksCar" departed. Based on plans for "Operation Olympic", the first phase of "Operation Downfall", he would have gone into Japan on the second wave, after the 5th Marine Division. American casualties just in this action were estimated at between 500,000 and 1,000,000 men. The Japanese were prepared to defend their homeland with 3,000,000 men and god knows how many civilians.
The History Channel had an excellent program on the event last night - "Days That Shook The World: Hiroshima." It will air again next Sunday evening at 7:00 PM Eastern, if you missed it.
I felt it was a fair portrayal, both from the side of the American decision to end the war as quickly as possible, and of the Japanese survivors. I've seen film taken by post-blast doctors, in a history class called "The Atomic Age", and some of this footage was interspersed into the re-creation in a very powerful way. Don't watch it if you are squeamish.
Tuesday marks the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki.
Our generations should thank their lucky stars we did not have to participate in such a world-wide conflict.
Let us give thanks to those who served in World War II to preserve democracy and our four fundamental liberties, and say a prayer for those who paid their ultimate sacrifice, regardless of which sides they were on. Let us also pray that it never happens again.
Enough said. I now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.
While we may lament the fact this had to happen, one cannot deny that it prevented a catastrophic loss of life that would have been incurred had "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" had not been dropped, and an invasion of the Japanese home islands occured.
I know for a fact that Janice's dad was spared this invasion because of this ... after all, he was a member of the 67th Naval Construction Batallion, responsible for building the runways on Tinian Island from which "Enola Gay" and "BocksCar" departed. Based on plans for "Operation Olympic", the first phase of "Operation Downfall", he would have gone into Japan on the second wave, after the 5th Marine Division. American casualties just in this action were estimated at between 500,000 and 1,000,000 men. The Japanese were prepared to defend their homeland with 3,000,000 men and god knows how many civilians.
The History Channel had an excellent program on the event last night - "Days That Shook The World: Hiroshima." It will air again next Sunday evening at 7:00 PM Eastern, if you missed it.
I felt it was a fair portrayal, both from the side of the American decision to end the war as quickly as possible, and of the Japanese survivors. I've seen film taken by post-blast doctors, in a history class called "The Atomic Age", and some of this footage was interspersed into the re-creation in a very powerful way. Don't watch it if you are squeamish.
Tuesday marks the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki.
Our generations should thank their lucky stars we did not have to participate in such a world-wide conflict.
Let us give thanks to those who served in World War II to preserve democracy and our four fundamental liberties, and say a prayer for those who paid their ultimate sacrifice, regardless of which sides they were on. Let us also pray that it never happens again.
Enough said. I now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.
posted by Lee at
8/07/2005 06:32:00 PM
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