
			U.S. vs. Japan in WWII

     On August 6, 1945 the atomic bomb was dropped on the 
 Japanese city of Hiroshima. The Enola Gay, piloted by 
 Colonel Tibbetts, was chosen to make the mission. The 
 mission was recorded as successful by Capt. William S. 
 Parson at 9:20 A.M. This was an extremely controversial 
 military strategy in the United States. Was the United 
 States justified in the dropping of the atomic bomb? Yes, 
 they were justified formany reasons. The primary reason was, 
 that it would stop the war. Why is it that this war needed 
 to be stopped so badly? Even though in some ways it was 
 helping our economy, it was very costly in both money and 
 lives. Also, the United States soldiers were undergoing 
 harsh treatment by the unmerciful Japanese. Another reason 
 the war needed to be stopped was to defend ourselves from 
 another attack on U.S. soil, which in turn would kill many 
 of our U.S. citizens. This is why the war needed to be 
 stopped; thus, justifying the use of the atomic bomb.
         World War II was the costliest war in history, in 
 terms of lives lost. No exact figures exist, but 
 approximately between 15 and 20 million military personnel 
 were killed. Of these, 292,000 were Americans and 6,000 
 innocent United States citizens were murdered by our 
 enemies. It has been estimated that if the United States had 
 not dropped the bomb and had invaded Japan instead, the 
 United States would have lost about a million soldiers. The 
 Japanese suicidal fighting strategies greatly effected this 
 number. The Japanese would rather die than surrender. This 
 is demonstrated by the battle of Saipan. At this battle over 
 half of the population of Saipan walked off a cliff instead 
 of surrendering to the United States. This was often very
 effective. Many times when a Japanese soldier decided to 
 blow himself up instead of surrendering he would kill many 
 Americans with the same blast. Also the kamikaze techniques 
 of the Japanese fighters killed many soldiers. If this war 
 would have continued we could have lost thousands more.  
 Also up to this point we spent 300 billion dollars on war 
 efforts. Many materials and other objects were damaged. Any 
 estimate on how much money was lost in damages would be 
 futile. This number would have continued to rise if it had
 not been for the use of the atomic bomb. 
         The horrendous atrocities that occurred during World 
 War II were unmerciful as well as unnecessary. During one 
 invasion of China, the rape of Nanking, the Japanese killed 
 100,000 Chinese civilians. They were burned, butchered, and 
 raped. Sometimes the Japanese would tie a big group of them
 together and use them for bayonet and sword practice. After 
 the fall of Bataan the soldiers were forced to go on a  
 death march. During this march many unheard of things 
 happened to the soldiers. A soldier was often killed for 
 trying to get a drink of water. If a soldier fell down the 
 Japanese would either bayonet them or knock them 
 unconscious. Once they were knocked unconscious, the 
 Japanese then forced another American soldier to bury the 
 unconscious soldier alive. One soldier once commented, "The 
 worst time was once when a burial victim with about six 
 inches of earth over him suddenly regained consciousness and 
 clawed his way out until he was almost sitting upright. Then 
 I learned to what length a man will go to hang onto his 
 life. The bayonets began to prod me in the side and I was 
 forced to bash the soldier over the head with the shovel and
 then finish burying him."(Kappler, Pg. 168) This harsh 
 treatment to innocent civilians and our soldiers
 needed to stop. The atomic bomb was a way to stop it.
         On December 7, 1941," A day that will live in 
 infamy," Pearl Harbor was deliberately attacked by the 
 Japanese. Reports indicate that 2400 people were killed and 
 1300 were wounded. The reason Japan bombed Pearl Harbor was 
 because that was where all of our Navy ships were 
 positioned. They were hoping to take out the Navy and were 
 almost successful. The aircraft carriers were expected to be 
 in the harbor, but luckily were not. Although the attack may 
 have been a military success in the minds of the Japanese it
 became a huge mistake in the final analysis. One reason it 
 was a mistake was it caused the U.S. to enter the war. We 
 were the ultimate cause to Japan losing the war. Secondly it 
 made the Americans angry and determined to destroy the 
 Japanese. Many congressmen volunteered for active duty, 
 asking for a one day respite to cast their vote for war. 
 Also recruiting offices were flooded with young patriots who 
 wanted to help there country out. This attack was just an 
 example of what could have happened if the war had
 continued. If the war had continued another attack on U.S. 
 soil could have taken place. This could have turned the 
 6,000 dead American civilians into 9,000 dead civilians. 
 That number could have kept rising until the war was over. 
 That is another reason the bomb needed to be dropped to stop 
 the war. 
         The war was a horrible thing. It killed millions and 
 destroyed the lives of millions more. It lasted six years 
 and could have lasted longer; with death and destruction 
 increasing every year. Ending such a horrible thing should 
 be reason enough to drop the atomic bomb. The cruelty of the 
 Japanese at such places as Bataan and Nanking was horrible 
 and needed to be stopped. Although the atomic bomb caused 
 much death devastation it indirectly saved lives. America 
 made their power known by frightening other European
 powers. This bombing has serviced to prohibit future attacks 
 on American soil. The atomic bomb was the best solution. The 
 atomic bomb may have killed thousands, but it saved 
 millions. 

