Video of a survivor of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb

[fvanhoose]

Nothing too surprising but I found it interesting to hear from someone who was there.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/video/survivor-of-the-nagasaki-atom-bomb-describes-his-experience/

 

[funKYcat75]

He just worked the rest of the day. NBD n

 

[fvanhoose]

I wondered about that as well. Atomic bomb kills a bunch of co-workers, demolishes city, work rest of day, go home.... Has to speak somewhat to the mentality of the time and place. That was one of the parts I found most intriguing. In fact I kind of doubt it. I'm sure there was no electricity there after the bomb exploded. Just what kind of work was he able to do? Still, interesting to hear it from a survivor.

 

[VT/UK Rondo]

Oh no doubt he finished the work day. Thats the way the Japanese roll. Thats why we had to drop the bomb in the first place-them sumbitches wouldnt quit and go to the house.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Oh no doubt he finished the work day. Thats the way the Japanese roll. Thats why we had to drop the bomb in the first place-them sumbitches wouldnt quit and go to the house.

Agree. Incredible fortitude.

Also interesting to look back to a time where we did what it took to win the war the quickest way, and with the least attrition.

I wonder would we have the fortitude to do the same today? Highly doubtful.

 

[musrat59]

We absolutely destroyed Tokyo in the war.

 

[BlueRaider22]

^yep. In fact some estimates state that there were more deaths caused by the Tokyo Fire bombings than both atomic bombings combined.

Also by the wars end the Japanese were suicide bombing at a much higher rate. Japanese civilians were committing suicide in mass.....jumping off cliffs, etc. had we invaded Japan the death numbers would've been astronomical.

 

[BlueRaider22]

The Russians were closing in fast from the mainland as well. If they would've invaded Japan, the death toll would've been higher than if we invaded.

 

[It'saDoneDeal]

Agree. Incredible fortitude.

Also interesting to look back to a time where we did what it took to win the war the quickest way, and with the least attrition.

I wonder would we have the fortitude to do the same today? Highly doubtful.

Let's not act like our motivation to drop the bomb was purely altruistic. Still, we can ultimately justify it as the best option that was available.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Let's not act like our motivation to drop the bomb was purely altruistic. Still, we can ultimately justify it as the best option that was available.

Altruistic? Hardly. But it saved tons of american lives. Today I think our nation would be too concerned about international opinion to make these types of tough decisions.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Survived, but still had some weird side effects..

 

[JumperJack]

“I saw a boy about ten years old walking by. He was carrying a baby on his back. In those days in Japan, we often saw children playing with their little brothers or sisters on their backs, but this boy was clearly different. I could see that he had come to this place for a serious reason. He was wearing no shoes. His face was hard. The little head was tipped back as if the baby were fast asleep. The boy stood there for five or ten minutes.”

“The men in white masks walked over to him and quietly began to take off the rope that was holding the baby. That is when I saw that the baby was already dead. The men held the body by the hands and feet and placed it on the fire. The boy stood there straight without moving, watching the flames. He was biting his lower lip so hard that it shone with blood. The flame burned low like the sun going down. The boy turned around and walked silently away.”

-Nagasaki, September 1945

 

[funKYcat75]

 

[RacerX.ksr]

I will always believe that if they hadn't bombed PH, we wouldn't have dropped the bombs on them. Might have blown a couple up over the ocean so they could see what we had.

I'm glad we did though. Showed the world, "hey, we'll play war with you all you want, but we don't play home games."

 

[musrat59]

Nagasaki was bombed 70 years ago today so I would like to recommend a good book about the bombings and the aftermath. The name of the book is Hiroshima Nagasaki and the author is Paul Ham. It is about a 500 page book and I have currently read a little over 400 pages. If you like history, this is a great read. Lots of survivors told their stories and I found it very, very interesting.

 

[VT/UK Rondo]

Lets not forget, the Japanese werent exactly innocent in the war. They brutalized, raped, tortured, and killed millions of innocent citizens and POWs. Many of their victims were subjected to chemical, biological and medical experiments(live vivisection and body part removal). Many of their victims were beheaded, used for live bayonette practice , buried alive and even cooked and eaten! And before you go feeling guilty for dropping the bomb on em, keep in mind that THEY were planning "operation cherry blossom at night" in which they were planning to use biological weapons against US citizens in San Diego. We simply beat them to the punch.

 

[cbpointblank1979]

^yep. In fact some estimates state that there were more deaths caused by the Tokyo Fire bombings than both atomic bombings combined.

Also by the wars end the Japanese were suicide bombing at a much higher rate. Japanese civilians were committing suicide in mass.....jumping off cliffs, etc. had we invaded Japan the death numbers would've been astronomical.

Likely would have been a million+ casualties - on our side alone. The bomb saved more lives than it ended. That said, I hope it never gets used again.