Dropping the Atomic Bomb
Dropping the Atomic BombOn 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.