Dropping the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki


Dropping the Atomic Bomb

On August 6, 1945 the atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese

city of Hiroshima. The Enola Gay, piloted by Colonel Tibbetts, was

chosen to make the mission. The mission was recorded as successful by

Capt. William S. Parson at 9:20 A.M. This was an extremely

controversial military strategy in the United States. Was the United

States justified in the dropping of the atomic bomb? Yes, they were

justified for many reasons. The primary reason was, that it would stop

the war. Why is it that this war needed to be stopped so badly? Even

though in some ways it was helping our economy, it was very costly in

both money and lives. Also, the United States soldiers were undergoing

harsh treatment by the unmerciful Japanese. Another reason the war

needed to be stopped was to defend ourselves from another attack on

U.S. soil, which in turn would kill many of our U.S. citizens. This is

why the war needed to be stopped; thus, justifying the use of the

atomic bomb. World War II was the costliest war in history, in terms

of lives lost. No exact figures exist, but approximately between 15

and 20 million military personnel were killed. Of these, 292,000 were

Americans and 6,000 innocent United States citizens were murdered by

our enemies. It has been estimated that if the United States had not

dropped the bomb and had invaded Japan instead, the United States

would have lost about a million soldiers. The Japanese suicidal

fighting strategies greatly effected this number. The Japanese would

rather die than surrender. This is demonstrated by the battle of

Saipan. At this battle over half of the population of Saipan walked

off a cliff instead of surrendering to the United States. This was

often very effective. Many times when a Japanese soldier decided to

blow himself up instead of surrendering he would kill many Americans

with the same blast. Also the kamikaze techniques of the Japanese

fighters killed many soldiers. If this war would have continued we

could have lost thousands more. Also up to this point we spent 300

billion dollars on war efforts. Many materials and other objects were

damaged. Any estimate on how much money was lost in damages would be

futile. This number would have continued to rise if it had not been

for the use of the atomic bomb. The horrendous atrocities that

occurred during World War II were unmerciful as well as unnecessary.

During one invasion of China, the rape of Nanking, the Japanese killed

100,000 Chinese civilians. They were burned, butchered, and raped.

Sometimes the Japanese would tie a big group of them together and use

them for bayonet and sword practice. After the fall of Bataan the

soldiers were forced to go on a death march. During this march many

unheard of things happened to the soldiers. A soldier was often killed

for trying to get a drink of water. If a soldier fell down the

Japanese would either bayonet them or knock them unconscious. Once

they were knocked unconscious, the Japanese then forced another

American soldier to bury the unconscious soldier alive. One soldier

once commented, "The worst time was once when a burial victim with

about six inches of earth over him suddenly regained consciousness and

clawed his way out until he was almost sitting upright. Then I learned

to what length a man will go to hang onto his life. The bayonets began

to prod me in the side and I was forced to bash the soldier over the

head with the shovel and then finish burying him."(Kappler, Pg. 168)

This harsh treatment to innocent civilians and our soldiers needed to

stop. The atomic bomb was a way to stop it. On December 7, 1941,"

A day that will live in infamy," Pearl Harbor was deliberately

attacked by the Japanese. Reports indicate that 2400 people were

killed and 1300 were wounded. The reason Japan bombed Pearl Harbor was

because that was where all of our Navy ships were positioned. They

were hoping to take out the Navy and were almost successful. The

aircraft carriers were expected to be in the harbor, but luckily were

not. Although the attack may have been a military success in the minds

of the Japanese it became a huge mistake in the final analysis. One

reason it was a mistake was it caused the U.S. to enter the war. We

were the ultimate cause to Japan losing the war. Secondly it made the

Americans angry and determined to destroy the Japanese. Many

congressmen volunteered for active duty, asking for a one day respite

to cast their vote for war. Also recruiting offices were flooded with

young patriots who wanted to help there country out. This attack was

just an example of what could have happened if the war had continued.

If the war had continued another attack on U.S. soil could have taken

place. This could have turned the 6,000 dead American civilians into

9,000 dead civilians. That number could have kept rising until the war

was over. That is another reason the bomb needed to be dropped to stop

the war.

The war was a horrible thing. It killed millions and destroyed

the lives of millions more. It lasted six years and could have lasted

longer; with death and destruction increasing every year. Ending such

a horrible thing should be reason enough to drop the atomic bomb. The

cruelty of the Japanese at such places as Bataan and Nanking was

horrible and needed to be stopped. Although the atomic bomb caused

much death devastation it indirectly saved lives. America made their

power known by frightening other European powers. This bombing has

serviced to prohibit future attacks on American soil. The atomic bomb

was the best solution. The atomic bomb may have killed thousands, but

it saved millions.



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