When your friends criticize our dropping the A-Bomb, have this info handy

[Louis of PA]

Iwo cost us 6,000 dead Marines and Corpsmen.

Okinawa cost us about 20,000, plus more lost warships and sailors than we'd lost since we became a nation.

I knew a man who fought through Europe, then was transferred to the Philippines to prepare for the invasion. He said to me ...

"We knew we would be killed ... but then we dropped the bombs. When my unit learned of the Jap surrender, many of us dropped to our knees and prayed in thanksgiving that we had been spared."

Information

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[Ken C.]

"Sorry -- I'm not politically correct -- I'm glad we dropped those bombs and
wish we could have dropped a few more. The Japs got what they so richly deserved."
If it were up to me we would still be dropping one every now and then into the hole where Japan used to be, just to remind folks what it means to stab America in the back. I remember the 2nd World War, what they did, and how they treated our P.O.W.'s. If our policy had remained consistent, there probably would never have been a Vietnam,Twin Towers, or any other horrendous acts committed against us. Americans have a very short memory, and our "education" system is being run by those misguided fools who think the world is comprised of people like us. It isnt!

[Greg H. in Virginia]

[QUOTE=Mike Josephic;44300]Department of Education? This is a joke -- a more proper name would be the Department of Disinformation.
=======================================
A more accurate name would be the Department of Indoctrination.

[7.62 NATO]

When your friends criticize our dropping the A-Bomb....

I learned long ago to choose my friends very wisely, no real need to preach to the choir. The rest are just left wing future targets

[Stevo]

I heard once that the US Army is still using up the Purple Hearts that were ordered in anticipation of the casualties from the invasion of Japan. Is this correct?

[Dale in Louisiana]

My dad was Navy. Started the war as a shipfitter, transitioned, like the military often does, into a coxswain on a landing craft. Never got into combat but was headed with the vast thundering herd across the Pacific for Coronet and Olympic. The bombs probably saved his life and made me possible. He spent the last part of 1945 and early '46 running his landing craft as a liason boat in Tokyo Bay.

dale
(fallout from the atomic bombs)

[Mike Josephic]

I'm sure it probably saved by Dad's life as well. He was 4 years on a destroyer in the Navy, lots of convery escort in the North Atlantic and
other rough duty including taking part in the D Day convoys.

When the war in Europe ended, his ship was being re-outfitted for duty
in the Pacfic. After the bomb was dropped, he was discharged in September,
1945.

[Kirk]

It wasn't just the troops in the canceled invasions whose lives were saved. In Aug, 1945, there were still alive about 100,000 POWs and 100,000 civilian internees (mostly British but also Dutch, US & other allies civillians kept in concentration camps). Execution orders had already gone out & a few POWs had already been murdered. For internees, the method of murder was starvation. Most of both groups would have been dead by Nov, 1945.

Also, the Soviets declared war on Japan in August. If the invasions had gone on in Nov and spring 1946, its likely the Soviets would have been involved with at least token forces. Upon victory, the Soviets would have demanded Japan be partitioned like Germany. Any thoughts about what route history would have taken with a Soviet zone in Japan and strong Soviet influence in SEA? Not only the US but the Japanese should thank God we A-bombed them & didn't invade.

Japanese losses would have been in the millions. Truman, other civillian leaders plus military leaders were apalled at the numbers of troops killed in the Pacific and were not willing to accept more. Thousands of tons of nerve & blister agents were stockpiled for use prior to the invasion. Odds were well over 50% that Truman would have ordered there use if we had invaded. They were never used and destroyed just a few years ago on Johnston Island (where they'd been delivered during the war & kept ever since; too much of a hazard to move!)

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Mike, are you sure the Enola Gay was fully restored? Last I heard was only the fuselage was complete. There was a Stink when the idiots at the Smithsonian wanted to put it in an exhibit with apologies to the japs.

However Bock's Car is complete and fully restored at Wright Patterson. AFB

[Mike Josephic]

Mike, are you sure the Enola Gay was fully restored? Last I heard was only the fuselage was complete. There was a Stink when the idiots at the Smithsonian wanted to put it in an exhibit with apologies to the japs.

However Bock's Car is complete and fully restored at Wright Patterson. AFB

Yes, the Enola Gay is fully restored and in the Smithonian Annex on display
near Washington. It was completed several years ago. The official name of the building is:

National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

Check their website: National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

I've seen Bock's Car at Wright Patterson as well.