Three days after the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, on August 9 a bomb hit Nagasaki, causing immense damage and loss of life. We had been hearing rumors of a possible surrender by Japan and only hours after the second bomb, Emperor Hirohito convinced the military leaders to surrender.
Fighting did not stop immediately and the Japs sank two ships. It was August 14 before the Japanese people knew the war had ended.
Many veterans who would have been in the first invasion of Japan believe the decision to drop the bomb on Nagasaki saved their lives. I share that belief to a certain extent. The navy expected 50 per cent casualties, and from what we later learned about their many suicide planes, the casualty rate would probably have been higher.
During this time, we continued to take on board the Blackhawk Division. A couple of weeks later we headed to Japan, stopping at the Philippines on the way,
Fighting did not stop immediately and the Japs sank two ships. It was August 14 before the Japanese people knew the war had ended.
Many veterans who would have been in the first invasion of Japan believe the decision to drop the bomb on Nagasaki saved their lives. I share that belief to a certain extent. The navy expected 50 per cent casualties, and from what we later learned about their many suicide planes, the casualty rate would probably have been higher.
During this time, we continued to take on board the Blackhawk Division. A couple of weeks later we headed to Japan, stopping at the Philippines on the way,
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