THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 13, 1994 TAG: 9408130018
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Robert MacPherson (letter, July 6) emphasized the great sacrifices we and our allies made in sending our men and women into combat in exchange for the freedom of others in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He also mentioned the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the ferocity and tenacity of the Japanese military.
Many still believe it was wrong to drop the atomic bombs on those cities. If a poll had been taken of us on the receiving end of Japanese bombs, shells and torpedoes, I believe the vote would have been unanimous - drop all the atomic bombs available. One became very sick, tired and scared seeing people losing their arms, legs, faces - their lives. I feel certain that the armed forces in the Pacific were/are eternally grateful to President Truman for having the courage and foresight to authorize the use of these dreadful weapons. Military intelligence estimated a million casualties if we had had to invade Japan.
The Japanese military had a history of ferocity and barbarism. I was in Japan when Nanking fell to the Japanese. I will never forget the torchlight parade celebrating the raping and killing of thousands of Chinese civilians. In a recent article in your paper you cited Prince Misaka, brother of Hirohito, on how the Japanese military used Chinese prisoners for bayonet practice, gassing and shooting. Sad to say, many Americans and our allies in World War II suffered a similar fate.
I visited Japan many times in the 1930s and was very impressed by the friendliness, courtesy and industry of its people. However, under the political control of the Japanese military the civilian politicians were powerless.
Admiral Nomura, ambassador to this country in 1941, stated that ``wiser statesmanship could have averted this great war.'' This highly prized skill could and should be more gainfully employed today. Let us not forget history!
JOSEPH C. SEVER
Norfolk, Aug. 8, 1994 by CNB