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

[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!

[kcw]

The bomb probably saved my fathers life. He, like most of my family, worked in the defence industry. In 1945, as they were getting ready to invade Japan, many got reclassified & ordered to report for physicals. He had a notice to report on a day a week after the bomb was dropped. They canceled his notice.

In late July 45' the guns in my dad's arty battalion were removed from Germany and shipped to the U.S. west coast, where the battalion, including my father, were to later rejoin them in preparation for the expected invasion of Japan. The men were making ready to depart Europe when the bomb was dropped. They spent the winter of 45-46 doing occupation/guard duty in Germany. It was the second cold/miserable winter in Europe for most of them but nobody complained and everyone was thankful that they'd dodged the meatgrinder that the invasion of Japan was predicted to have been.

[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!)

[TDH]

I couldn't agree with you more, CTMC. The problem is, most people today have no idea why the bomb was dropped. A survey done at one of the local high schools just across the river from me (in MD) found that over half of the high school seniors believed that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in retaliation for the US dropping the atom bomb on Hiroshima. So much for history class.

as a Junior in H.S. my daughters alleged History teacher spent 2/3 of the year making them learn by heart the Constitution (which he was suppose to cover their SR. year IN civics) which in it's self isn't a horrible thing. He spent a whole class on our war of independence. A whole class on the Civil war. A half class on WW1 and a class and a half on WW2. Korea and Viet Nam were covered in the same class. After looking at her history book it's probably a good thing as I didn't recognize the VN war and I was involved in it. Our schools are being taught by the far left and we should be afraid. VERY VERY AFRAID.

[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."

[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

[M1 Rifleman]

My father was also "spared" from having to invade Japan. His Division (the 75th ID) was "earmarked" to be deployed to the Pacific as part of the invasion forces. Luckily, on August 6th, his life was spared.

The War Department had ordered a huge quantity of Purple Hearts (I've heard figures of over a million) just for the Japanese Invasion. Due to the WD order, there were enough Purple Hearts to fill those needed for the Korean War until today. From what I remember, the DoD STILL has enough medals for the next several wars.

Those idiots who say that we did wrong in dropping two Atomic Bombs on Japan are full of s**t. They don't realize how many American (and Allied) and Japanese lives were spared due to the bombings. They should study History rather than condemning our Country. Maybe several of those protesting wouldn't be here IF the bombs weren't dropped?

[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.