I understand the angst regarding coupling the topic of the Holocaust and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 (“The Days After,” Aug. 26).
However, I must point out facts that were not considered in the writing of this article.
Before the bombing, the United States government warned the leaders of Japan of the devastating effects of the atomic bomb and threatened the dropping of the bomb unless the Japanese agreed to an unconditional surrender. They refused, possibly because they didn’t believe the warning.
Secondly, without the use of the bomb, the U.S. would have had to invade the mainland of Japan, with devastating consequences vis a vis the loss of American lives. As much as I regret the loss of so many innocent civilians lives in Japan, I have to say I would have regretted more the loss of thousands of American soldiers, sailors and Marines, including my brother, who was stationed in China, an ally, during the war.
From my perspective, the American government really had no choice and should suffer no regrets, unfortunate as the result was.
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