My trip to Hiroshima

[Panzermacher]

In August of 1984, i had the honor of visiting the city of Hiroshima. I visited the A-Dome and the Peace Museum. A very moving experience and when I get the pics scanned I will put them up here for all to see. And just this year, my son, who is in the USMC got to visit Hiroshima too and he also, was touched.

[Jim O]

I would love to see those photos. Thanks in advance.

[Panzermacher]

soon as I get the gumption to scan I will post em!

[Tom Houlihan]

PM, I also visited Hiro when I was stationed in Iwakuni back in '97. I had to bite my tongue, though. There are two dioramas of the city, before and after the bomb. Very nicely done, too, I might add. What bothered the hell out of me, though, was something written on the wall.

Essentially, it indicated that one day, for no reason at all, a US plane came over and dropped this nasty bomb. Nothing about why the US and Japan were at war, or anything like that. We just apparently decided to erase a city one morning for no good reason.

That evening, I had a conversation with a JN, the bartender in the Staff Club. I found out that the Japanese schools teach virtually NOTHING about the war! My buddy and I asked him about Pearl Harbor, Nanking, Bataan, Iwo Jima, and he knew nothing about them! He wasn't being obtuse, he really didn't know!

I won't get into an argument about the necessity of the bomb, but I fear that museums like that in Japan that relate to WWII are less than one-sided.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Tom Houlihan

I found out that the Japanese schools teach virtually NOTHING about the war!

This is a very true statement and is the source of continued bitterness on the part of Japan's Asian neighbors, particularly Korea and China.

[Panzermacher]

I lived in Japan for almost 4 years and I will agree The JN schools tend to forget that We were at war with Japan...and that THEY had attacked The US and other Allied nations and it is a shame that they continue the lie. I never saw that but, we were there at the anniversary of the bombing and the mood was very somber. I believe we made the right choice in dropping the bomb, but as a human being it still affected me, all politics aside. So many died. And now the Govt of Japan tries to cover up the reason. It just don't make sense.

[Tom Houlihan]

Well, don't get me wrong. The displays were quite moving. I do feel bad for civilians caught up in stuff like that, the truly innocent in the fray. But, I think of the potential casualty lists on both sides had we not dropped the bombs, and it takes a bit of the sting out of it.

[Panzermacher]

Ageed... they estimated over one million US casualties alone....that is well worth it in my book...

[Panzermacher]

OK I got the pics scanned now just gonna try and put em up with captions!


All the following Pictures were taken on the 40th anniversary of the Dropping of the Bomb on Hiroshima. August 1983.

A-dome, side that faced ground Zero.



The Plaque with the A-Dome Story



A-Dome, from Across the river...



A shot of the interior showing the braces in the tower...front of the building.



Front shot...look how the city has grown around it..compared to pictures after the Bomb.

[Panzermacher]

Hey It worked! I got em posted, so here is the second set.....for your enjoyment!

The Tower closeup....this was as close as we could get.



Again a shot from across the River (The river was full of crabs...Nasty looking little beasties.)


A Shrine Arch over a fountain, with Eternal Flame....A-Dome in background. Notice the piles of flowers, incense, and Prayer Ribbons



A Good look at the tower and the damage to it


A good front on shot of the A-Dome....My original caption says to compare it to the plaque picture.