Vets At Truman’s Grave Say Thanks For A-Bomb

Veterans snapped salutes and placed carnations at President Truman’s grave Saturday, a belated “thanks” for his decision to drop the atomic bomb 50 years ago.

Few of the roughly 400 World War II veterans and their families who attended the ceremony at the Truman Library have wavered in their belief that the president’s decision to bomb Japan saved lives.

“President Truman gave me and 999,999 other POWs a second birthday when he ordered them to drop Little Boy, so I thank you,” said George DeLapp, a Marine who survived the Bataan death march.

Today, 50 years have passed since the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, killing 75,000 people. Two days later the Russians joined the war against Japan, and the following day the United States bombed Nagasaki, killing 65,000 people.

Japan surrendered the next day.

Without the bombs, many argue that a ground war would have been necessary. Critics claim that had the United States pushed for less than unconditional surrender, an invasion would not have been necessary.

A program handed out Saturday estimated that 1.5 million U.S. soldiers would have been killed or wounded in an invasion of Japan.

Former prisoners of war also referred to a standing order given to Japanese guards: Kill all POWs in the event of a mainland invasion.

At one point, former Air Force Capt. Walter Ross asked the former prisoners in the audience to stand. A dozen men rose to their feet.

“I think these people would give a good answer to those who would like to rewrite history that the atomic bomb should not have been dropped,” Ross said.