Gene363 wrote:Like it or not, the two nukes dropped on Japan saved millions of American and Japanese lives.
If disagree, read the book, Hell to Pay: Operation Downfall and the Invasion of Japan, 1945-1947. Purple heart medals ordered for the invasion of Japan are still being issued today. In the book they figured they would need more.
I agree with you, Gene. Anyone who has ever read about, and studied the proposed invasions of the Japanese home islands, would agree that the atomic bombs saved millions of lives. Estimated casualties where over 1 million Allied, and up to 10 million Japanese. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians where being trained to charge the invasion beaches with nothing more then sharpened wood spears. After the surrender of Japan, the Allies found several thousand Kamikaze aircraft that had been held in reserve for defense of the homeland. It is estimated that these aircraft, making only 1 hit in 6 attempts, could have sunk close to 400 allied ships. Instead of warships, this time their targets where to be troop transports, which would have produced far greater Allied casualties.
Of course there are many uninformed folks who love to condemn the US for dropping the bombs. To those I ask, as horrible as the bombs where, would it have been more to your liking, if an additional 10 million souls perished during the invasions? Then again, I guess the war mongering Allies could have just surrendered.
