Essay Sample on The Atomic Bomb on Japan: Right or Wrong

On September 2 1945 World War 2 officially ended, but Japan was still at war with many other countries. Many factors played into the US governments decision to drop two Atomic bombs on two cities in Japan, Hiroshima and Nagaski. Shortly after these two Atomic bombs were dropped they sparked much controversy. Many expressed their anger towards the United States claiming that this act was unfair to Japanese citizens as getting into World War 2 was not their decision, instead it was the government's decision. Many others also have expressed their thoughts that dropping Atomic bombs on Japan was necessary and the right thing to do for everyone that was involved with World War 2.

For many, dropping an Atomic bomb on Japan was the right thing to do in order to end this war. Although Japan did officially surrender on September 2, 1945, its military kept on fighting and invading other nearby foreign countries. According to William “Wild Bill” Guarnere “The U.S. dropped a bomb on Hiroshima, the Japanese surrendered, and the war was over.  We were so relieved.  It was the greatest thing that could have happened.” This was a great discovery for many soldiers and allied nations as it meant that they would not send their troops over to Japan and risk millions of soldier’s lives. William “Wild Bill” Guarnere also adds “Me and all my buddies jumping in Tokyo, and the Allied forces going in, and all of us getting killed?  Millions more Allied soldiers getting killed?” To him and many other soldiers dropping an Atomic bomb on Japan was a justified act aiding to help completely ending World War 2. Additionally there were also many others that were supportive of this decision.  Bill Dietrich explains how “Immediate use of the bomb convinced the world of its horror and prevented future use when nuclear stockpiles were far larger.” This was no longer just to stop this world was, it was also meant to demonstrate the shear power of an Atomic bomb and that we should not resort to using them unless it is deemed absolutely necessary. 

On the other side many expressed their hatreated towards the US and that this event was unnecessary. The Nippon Times even stated that “This is a crime against God and humanity which strikes at the very basis of moral existence.” They did have a point though, an estimated 135,000 lives were taken that day and many more were affected by this horrific event. Michihiko Hachiya explains during the Hiroshima bombing “The view where a moment before all had been so bright and sunny was now dark and hazy... What had happened? All over the right side of my body I was bleeding…” he also adds “Hiroshima was no longer a city but a burned-over prairie. To the east and to the west everything was flattened. The distant mountains seemed nearer than I could ever remember…” this firsthand account explains the true shear power of this bomb and the devistating effects that it had on the victims. There were also a variety of long term health effects due to this bombing, many surviors had an increased risk of cancer furthermore one of President Harry Truman's Chief of Staff William E. Leahy said “I was not taught to make war in that fashion, and wars cannot be won by destroying women and children.” William D Leahy further strenthings arguments from those that were against dropping an Atomic bomb on Japan. Wars can not be won by killing civilians and must be done in a more humane and diplomatic manner.