I am asking you to think about the dropping of the first Atomic Bomb on
Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945.
People have been arguing about whether the United States
should have
dropped that bomb ever since that bomb was dropped. Below I will present a lot
of facts for you to think about.
Are You Ready To Start Thinking?
Ø
Okinawa was the last
island to be taken before the planned landings on the home islands of Japan.
Ø
The Battle of Okinawa
lasted from April 1, 1945 to June 22, 1945.
Ø
It turned out to be the
last major battle of World War II.
Ø
It was also one of the
bloodiest battles.
Ø
The Navy’s Fifth Fleet and more
than 180,000 U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps troops took part in the battle.
Ø
The Fifth Fleet launched
the largest bombardment ever to support a troop landing to soften Japanese
defenses.
Ø
Japan’s 32nd Army, some
130,000 men strong, defended Okinawa.
Ø
The Kamikaze Suicide
Pilots were Japan’s most ruthless weapon and on April 4 the Japanese
unleashed them on the Fifth Fleet.
Ø
Some of these planes crashed
into U.S. ships at 500 miles per hour causing catastrophic damage.
Ø
The Kamikaze attacks
continued until June 27th.
Ø
A total of 1,465 Kamikaze
Planes were used against U.S. Ships.
Ø
Some Kamikaze Rockets (MXY-7 Ohka) which could reach 620 mph in a
dive were also used.
Ø
The Japanese sank 36 U.S.
Ships.
Ø
368 more ships were
damaged.
Ø
The U.S. lost 763
aircraft.
Ø
This was the heaviest lost
of men and ships in war.
Ø
Both sides suffered
enormous losses in the Battle.
Ø
The Americans bore over
49,000 casualties including 12,520 killed.
Ø
Japanese losses were even
greater—about 110,000 Japanese soldiers lost their lives.
Ø
It’s estimated that between
40,000 and 150,000 Okinawa citizens were also killed.
Ø
The Navy lost more men
than did the Army and Marines fighting onshore.
Ø
Most Japanese troops and
Okinawa citizens had been told and they firmly believed Americans took no
prisoners and they’d be killed on the spot if captured. As a result, countless numbers
took their own lives.
Ø
About 7,000 Japanese
soldiers did surrender but many chose death by suicide. Some jumped from high
hills and others blew themselves up with hand grenades.
Ø When faced with the reality that further fighting was futile, the Japanese Commanding General Ushijima and his Chief of Staff, General Cho, committed ritual suicide on June 22, effectively ending the battle.
Speaking of Thinking, here is what President Truman had to think about…
Over 2 Million Japanese Troops were Waiting on the
Home Islands of Japan for the U.S. Invasion
Do you Think President Truman was Thinking that the Japanese were about to surrender?
Think about it.
Would I kid u?
Smartfella
