August 1945

New Frontline
Sixty years ago, on the month of August, the world witnessed a momentum event that changed the main stream of how we look and define power. During that year -1945- the Allied forces was facing a tremendous confrontation from the Japanese arms forces. The defeat of German didn't bring the war into a halt. Instead to fix and rebuild what they had from the war, the world had to witness one of the bloodiest wars.

Japanese troops were expanding like a wraith of god. Their movement was unstoppable. Because of the loyalty and high dedication from their soldiers, Japanese was seen as a monstrous nation that will destroy anything in its path. The attacks done by Kamikaze fighters on Allied freights and ships have given enough headache and loss. Somehow, the war has to put to an end. Casualties fallen in great numbers from both side.

New-born Evil
Long before that, American had started their atomic project. Date from 1939, when Albert Einstein warned Franklin D. Roosevelt that Germany was trying to develop atomic weapons based on an isotope of uranium, U-235. After years of intense research and experimenting, a bomb was 'born' in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Seeing as an necessary act, it was then decided to drop the bomb on Japanese soil. This was what shocked the world. On the early morning of August 6, 1945, a single B-29 Superfortress flying passed Hiroshima. The largest city in the Chugoku region of western Honshu, the largest of Japan's islands; Hiroshima acted as a major supply and logistics base for the Japanese military, a role that it continued to play during World War II.

The plane, Enola Gay, cruising over the city around 7.25 a.m. Its mission was simple, to drop a new weaponry nicknamed Little Boy. An uranium gun-type device, its force was an equal to 13,000 tons of TNT. The bomb, weighs about 10,000 lbs (4,500 kg), was released from 26,000 feet at 8.16 a.m. It took about 46 seconds before it exploded at 1,900 ft (580 m) above Hiroshima.

Seconds after that, Hiroshima was gone. The bomb was so powerful that everything in 1 mile range from the detonation center was incinerated. People turned into ashes just in a matter of second. 80,000 people perished in a single go, leaving a city with mushroom cloud that reached 8 miles (13 km) over the city. Another 70,000 were injured. Many more would die from cancer and radiation sickness, causing leukemia, pernicious anemia and other illnesses. Many children were born with deformities. Estimated toll reached 200,000 dead within five years. These survivors are the sole eye-witnesses of the shattering event. They are called "hibakusha". These people are the first group that experienced the effect of atomic radiation on human. Some of them are still alive until today. Every year, they tell the same story, share the same bitterness and tears. Their strength are one of the fundamental essence of campaign against nuclear weapons and why mankind should not repeat the evil.

What the world saw that day was a devastating destruction men can make. Mankind had given birth a new form of evil, a new hybrid death angel. A bomb made from a lump of uranium of the size of an orange, but one of the destructive man-made creation. A creation that gives no chance to anyone or anything to stand against it. A pure evil.

A release of forceful energy that can dematerialize anything within its explosion range. Should mankind think to use it against their enemies, they also have to consider the effect of such an act. The bomb proved and replaced a conventional weaponry. Countries are racing to build and make their own atomic bomb. It is now seen as a trump card to be considered as "strong nation". We just hope that when they are building the bomb, they can still remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki. An atomic or nuclear attack on a country that also possess nuclear weaponry will not only trigger a massive destructive war, but perhaps global war.

To Bomb Or Not To Bomb?
However, until now, sixty years later, we are still left with controversy and arguments that questioning if the bombing was necessary. Japanese forces had suffered enough damage that could make them to end the war. Unfortunately, they kept persistent to fight and continue the battle. Some said that this was an utter stupidity comes from stubborn war generals. While others have different perception and point of view. Japanese, especially the army forces at that time, were practising and think highly of their famous Samurai Codes. A dedication that can makes one believes and willing to go and try at any measurement for the Great Empire of Japan.

Some people claim that even if the U.S. did not drop the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese will surrender. However, some skeptics say that Japanese generals were still believing in their power and capabilities. They showed no sign of stopping. This was the basic decision made by President Truman to allow the bombing.

The bombing on Hiroshima had shown to the world that U.S. was capable to do damage in such magnitude. That is why people asked if the bombing on Nagasaki (on August 9, 1945) had some sufficient reasons. Many others confront and accusse that the U.S. Military Force was testing a different type of atomic bomb on Nagasaki. They did it to measure the level of destruction. So Nagasaki was seen no more than a testing ground. As the fact talks, the "Little Boy" was an uranium-type bomb. While on Nagasaki, they used a plutonium-type bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man" that had an expolosive force (yield) of about 20,000 tons of TNT.

Which side you will be, it is up to you. But we all know that atomic bomb is not the answer to end or start a war. Many generations will suffer, not only because of the direct effect but also traumatic level, fears, and bloody memories. Many generations to come will always see and remember the scars. Sooner or later, any dependent trust of atomic weapon will bring mankind to an end.

"“War does not determine who is right or wrong — only who is left.”

This writing is dedicated for the victims of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Also for those who are affected by the radiation, those who lost families and loved ones from the bombing.