Surviving Hiroshima: A Young Woman's Story

by Anthony Drago

This group of Jewish ex-patriots included the wealthy, academics, and artists, many of whom resettled in the United States. All of them warned about German fascism, but one group of German immigrants—scientists—delivered a warning that was much more ominous. They were aware that an atomic bomb was theoretically possible and that German scientists were working to develop one. Several scientists, including Albert Einstein, sent a letter to President Roosevelt warning him that if a uranium-based atomic bomb was to be created, it must be created by the United States and not Germany. Roosevelt took the warning seriously.

There is physical pain and mental pain, and Mom believed both could be mastered, at least to a great degree. She believed that through determination one could become physically and mentally self-sufficient and withstand the worst that life had to offer.

Truman was a resolute character known for his coarse language and willingness to assume personal responsibility for whatever task he was charged with. He did not care for those who would not make decisions and “passed the buck.” During his presidency, a sign in his Oval Office boldly proclaimed, “The Buck Stops Here.”

Truman whipped the unit into shape by holding the noncommissioned officers responsible for the conduct of the troops, backing them up when they were right, and chewing them out when they were wrong.

During the early stages of the war, Truman had chaired the Committee on Military Affairs, a watchdog organization tasked with controlling waste and corruption in the enormous American war production machine. His talent for asking pointed questions and cracking the whip had saved billions of dollars, which propelled him from relative obscurity to the cover of Time magazine.

Among the many things of which Truman was unaware was the development of the atomic bomb, so upon Roosevelt’s death, Truman learned he would be the new president of the United States, de facto leader of the Allied war effort, and oh, by the way, we have a new secret weapon capable of killing tens of thousands of people in an instant, and you will have sole responsibility for determining whether or not to use it. Surprise.

During the conference, Truman told Stalin somewhat vaguely that America had a “powerful new weapon,” and Stalin stated that America should feel free to use it.2 What Truman did not know at the time was that the Soviet Union had a robust spy operation running in the United States, including spies within the Manhattan Project. One of the Manhattan Project physicists, Dr. Karl Fuchs, was sending bomb development data to the Soviets. Ironically, Stalin knew about the atomic bomb long before Truman did.

The committee nominated five targets based primarily on military value: Kokura, Hiroshima, Yokohama, Niigata, and Kyoto. Kyoto was a problem for Stimson and he argued vigorously that it be removed from the list, despite its military value. Stimson admired the beauty and historical significance of the city. And, fortunately for the citizens of Kyoto, Stimson had a personal connection to the city: He had spent his honeymoon there. Kyoto was removed from the list.

One raid in particular, the firebombing of Tokyo on the night of March 9-10, 1945, was remarkable for its catastrophic results, becoming the most destructive bombing raid in history.

Read this carefully as it may save your life or the life of a relative or friend. In the next few days, some or all of the cities named on the reverse side will be destroyed by American bombs. These cities contain military installations or workshops that produce military goods. . . . But unfortunately, bombs have no eyes. So, in accordance with America’s humanitarian policies, the American Air Force, which does not wish to injure innocent people, now gives you warning to evacuate the cities named and save your lives.

In a curious development, some survivors discovered pumpkins and potatoes in the ground that had been baked by the detonation. They ate them.

A second ship, the USS Sturgis, transported military officers and diplomats from the United States, Australia, Canada, the Dutch East Indies, China, and the Philippines.