On August 6, 1945 The U.S.A. changed the face of modern warfare. Using intelligence gathered through its Manhattan Project an American B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, dropped the world's first atom bomb, over Hiroshima, Japan. Approximately 80,000 people are killed immediately after the blast, and another 35,000 were injured. At least another 60,000 would be dead by the end of the year from radioactive diseases. According to world renowned author John Hersey many of the victims of the atom bomb in Hiroshima were civilians women and children. What makes a country that is supposed to represent freedom decide to alienate the freedoms of others especially innocent women and children? That's an easy one... the attack on Pearl Harbor which killed 2,402 and wounded another 1,282. The attack on Pearl Harbor killed/wounded 3,684 persons versus 175,000 person killed/wounded during the Hiroshima bombings. The strength of the new technology of atomic warfare showed the world that with just a couple of bombs we could possibly kill/wound an entire city/state and that being an innocent civilian meant nothing when it came to possibly gaining a foothold in a new land.
Additionally, more than 62,000 buildings were destroyed during the bombing and only 20 doctors remained alive and capable to survey and help causalities along with 150 nurses. So many people could have possibly survived, however, due to limited medical attention they died. Imagine the streets littered with the bodies of children some of which were vaporized due to the intense heat of the bomb. It saddens me that to this day the U.S. has never really accepted its role in the horrific events of Hiroshima and it saddens me even more that there is a sense of pride in the killing of innocent people. Have we come along way? Well, I guess if we look at the Iraq war we see that the U.S. has a history of making innocent people suffer because of supremacy desires.
Tired and Hungry civilians attempt to get a basic necessity: WATER
Civilian survey aftermath of Hiroshima
The destruction of the homes of the people of Hiroshima destroyed along with much of their livelihood. Can you imagine the chaos that ensued after the devastation. People dead in the streets, others vaporized where they stood or sat, and then the horrible effects of radiation. Some people were so thirsty they would drink the tainted water falling to the ground which would only cause more symptoms and lead to death.
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