Lives Saved

That’s the important lesson 73 years after first atomic bomb dropped

It was 73 years ago today when the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. On August 6, 1945, the crew of the U.S. B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, acting on an executive order by President Harry S. Truman dropped an 8,900 lb. bomb codenamed “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, a city of 350,000.

The force of the bomb’s explosion was equal to somewhere between 13 and 18 kilotons of TNT. About 80,000 people were killed immediately and another 50,000 or so would die within the next four months from the effects of radiation and other related causes.

After the Hiroshima bombing, President Truman called for Japan to surrender. The president issued a statement of warning, saying. “If they do not now accept our terms, they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth.” The Japanese did not reply.

The second bombing was set for August 9 on the port city of Nagasaki. The U.S. B-29 Superfortress Bockscar dropped the bomb codenamed “Fat Man” on the city. Anywhere from 45,000 to 75,000 died that day, with thousands more to follow in the months ahead.

The next day the Japanese government protested the bombings, using the neutral Swiss as emissaries. But by August 12 Emperor Hirohito had decided to surrender. There were some behind the scenes negotiations until August 15, when the emperor made the announcement via radio.

Today, as in years past, there will be ceremonies around the world commemorating the bombings, with speakers calling for an end to nuclear weapons.

And over the years, President Truman’s decision to use atomic weapons has been debated, defended and criticized. There are even those— including some Americans—who think this country should apologize to Japan and the world for carnage unleashed 73 years ago.

Such thoughts are misguided. We did not instigate World War II—Japan brought us into the war when it bombed Pearl Harbor. We did not intend to sacrifice so many brave Americans in war, the Axis powers forced us to do so. By the time the bombs were dropped, we had a choice— end the war now or face heavy American—and even heavier Japanese—casualties from a fullscale invasion of the Japanese islands.

We chose the wiser path. Because we used atomic bombs, the war ended months, maybe years, sooner than it would have otherwise. And countless more lives were saved than were lost at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.