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Japan Today
19-07-2025
- General
- Japan Today
‘The Hiroshima Men' is a reminder of the horrific human costs of atomic attack
This cover image shows "The Hiroshima Men: The Quest to Build the Atomic Bomb, and the Fateful Decision to Use It" by Iain MacGregor. book review By ANITA SNOW John Hersey was a 32-year-old reporter who returned from Japan with in 1946 with a groundbreaking story that challenged the U.S. government's version of its atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima, showing the human consequences were far more horrific and extensive than the American public had been told. Hersey's 30,000-word piece for The New Yorker magazine focused on a few of the thousands of survivors who fell ill, and often died, from the lingering effects of radiation long after the bomb's initial impact killed tens of thousands of Japanese men, women and children. Hersey is among diverse group of men author and historian Iain MacGregor profiles in his new book, 'The Hiroshima Men: The Quest to Build the Atomic Bomb, and the Fateful Decision to Use It.' MacGregor earlier wrote 'Checkpoint Charlie,' an acclaimed history of Cold War Berlin, as well as 'The Lighthouse of Stalingrad: The Hidden Truth at the Heart of the Greatest Battle of World War II.' With the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima attack approaching next month, 'The Hiroshima Men' is a potent reminder of the extreme human costs that were wrought by the first atomic weapon employed during warfare. By profiling some key players, MacGregor pulls readers into their personal stories with visually enticing description and lively dialogue. One was pilot Paul Tibbetts, Jr., who fell in love with flying at age 12 when he rode in an old biplane that took off from a horse racing track outside Miami. He named the Boeing B-29 Superfortress that he was flying when it dropped the atomic bomb on Aug. 6, 1945, for his mother, Enola Gay. Another profile is of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant scientific theorist who inspired a team testing the atomic bomb at a secret research laboratory in rural New Mexico. There's also Maj. Gen. Henry 'Hap' Arnold, who led the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II and understood what could be achieved with the faster long-range B-29 bomber, which could travel farther and fly much higher than the popular B-17 that had been used on Europe. MacGregor also introduces us to Senkichi Awaya, the mayor of Hiroshima, a city founded in the late 1580s by a powerful warlord who built a castle headquarters on the shores of a strategically located bay. There are many more. The most powerful sections of the book come toward the end, when MacGregor describes the ghastly aftermath of the bombing — a gruesome hellscape littered with charred bodies and stunned survivors with skin dangling from their bodies and eyes hanging from the sockets. He then invites readers to reflect on the event's profound costs: 'I hope, looking right across the experience of this terrifying and cataclysmic event, that you, the reader, can judge for yourself whether this journey through the experiences of a city mayor, a bomber pilot, an Army general and an award-winning journalist, who all were intimately connected to Hiroshima, was worth it.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Winnipeg Free Press
17-07-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Book Review: ‘The Hiroshima Men' is a reminder of the horrific human costs of atomic attack
John Hersey was a 32-year-old reporter who returned from Japan with in 1946 with a groundbreaking story that challenged U.S. government's version of its atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima, showing the human consequences were far more horrific and extensive than the American public had been told. Hersey's 30,000-word piece for The New Yorker magazine focused on a few of the thousands of survivors who fell ill, and often died, from the lingering effects of radiation long after the bomb's initial impact killed tens of thousands of Japanese men, women and children. Hersey is among diverse group of men author and historian Iain MacGregor profiles in his new book, 'The Hiroshima Men: The Quest to Build the Atomic Bomb, and the Fateful Decision to Use It.' MacGregor earlier wrote 'Checkpoint Charlie,' an acclaimed history of Cold War Berlin, as well as 'The Lighthouse of Stalingrad: The Hidden Truth at the Heart of the Greatest Battle of World War II.' With the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima attack approaching next month, 'The Hiroshima Men' is a potent reminder of the extreme human costs that were wrought by the first atomic weapon employed during warfare. By profiling some key players, MacGregor pulls readers into their personal stories with visually enticing description and lively dialogue. One was pilot Paul Tibbetts, Jr., who fell in love with flying at age 12 when he rode in an old biplane that took off from a horse racing track outside Miami. He named the Boeing B-29 Superfortress that he was flying when it dropped the atomic bomb on Aug. 6, 1945, for his mother, Enola Gay. Another profile is of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant scientific theorist who inspired a team testing the atomic bomb at a secret research laboratory in rural New Mexico. There's also Maj. Gen. Henry 'Hap' Arnold, who led the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II and understood what could be achieved with the faster long-range B-29 bomber, which could travel farther and fly much higher than the popular B-17 that had been used on Europe. MacGregor also introduces us to Senkichi Awaya, the mayor of Hiroshima, a city founded in the late 1580s by a powerful warlord who built a castle headquarters on the shores of a strategically located bay. There are many more. The most powerful sections of the book come toward the end, when MacGregor describes the ghastly aftermath of the bombing — a gruesome hellscape littered with charred bodies and stunned survivors with skin dangling from their bodies and eyes hanging from the sockets. He then invites readers to reflect on the event's profound costs: 'I hope, looking right across the experience of this terrifying and cataclysmic event, that you, the reader, can judge for yourself whether this journey through the experiences of a city mayor, a bomber pilot, an Army general and an award-winning journalist, who all were intimately connected to Hiroshima, was worth it.' ___ AP book reviews:
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
At 101, Dunedin World War II veteran reflects on service during ‘Victory in Europe Day'
The Brief Bob Russell, 101, was a fighter/bomber pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe when he heard the news that the Germans had surrendered. While the Japanese had not yet surrendered in the Pacific region, May 8 marked the end of World War II in Europe with Victory in Europe Day. Russell and everyone in his 405th fighter squadron received air medals for containing German forces during the historic Battle of the Bulge, which was a resounding battlefield success. DUNEDIN, Fla. - May 8, 1944, is a day Bob Russell remembers well. A fighter/bomber pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe, he was in a hospital room near Belgium recovering from being shot down when he heard the news that the Germans had surrendered. "There wasn't much celebration. We were just ready to come home," Russell told FOX 13. READ: Manatee County World War II veteran receives highest honor from France The backstory While the Japanese had not yet surrendered in the Pacific region, May 8 marked the end of World War II in Europe with Victory in Europe Day (V.E. Day). There is another day that is equally important to Russell, however. It was the moment that lit his patriotic fire. When news broke of the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941, he knew that it was his calling to serve. "We were all very patriotic then," he said. "Much more so than we are today." Follow FOX 13 on YouTube His memory remains sharp at 101 years old. "I'm going after 102," he told FOX 13 with a determined chuckle. Barely three years after enlisting, he'd found himself piloting a P-47 Thunderbolt in the Army Air Corps. He flew cover for General George Patton's troops on the ground in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944. "We were trying to keep the German Army out of Berlin," he recalled. MORE: Air Force veteran shares artistic talent through personalized plaques and signs He did just that, flying low-level bombing and strafing runs at tree-top level while dodging enemy fire. His memory is rivaled only by his confidence when asked if he was a pretty good pilot; "The best," he snaps back with a wry smile and another chuckle. He would need those sharp piloting skills on his 13th and final mission. Shot down by an explosive German shell, he managed to pull off a perfect emergency landing, landing on the belly of his plane with no landing gear and Nazi forces on the ground around him. His knee was badly damaged by shrapnel, but that didn't keep him from running to safety once he landed. He told FOX 13 he can't believe it's been 80 years. Big picture view But, opening doors of reflection often reveal the weight of the unknown. He's often haunted by the unintended victims down below who just happened to be near their targets. So, heavy remains his heart. "I was always hoping we never hit any children," he said with a long pause. "But we probably did, you know," as he wiped a wet eye. READ: Palm Harbor WWII veteran finds comfort in new mission at 100 years old: 'Life is golden' Russell and everyone in his 405th fighter squadron received air medals for containing German forces during the historic Battle of the Bulge, which was a resounding battlefield success. But, it did not come without tremendous loss. By the numbers Between December 16, 1944, and January 23, 1945, the United States suffered 81,000 casualties with 19,246 killed, 23,000 captured and 38,000 injured, according to the National Archives. A handful of Russell's friends in the 405th were among those who didn't get to come home. He thinks of each of them often. "It's, uh... [wipes tear] a lot of good kids," he said. He was just 20 at the time, as were most of his squadron pals. But, there's no mistaking youth for lack of character during war. Russell reflects on all of them fondly. MORE: Heroes' Village bringing first-of-its-kind veteran housing to Sarasota "Of all the places I've been, it was the greatest group of people I ever associated with," he told FOX 13 of his 405th Fighter Squadron. Another reminder that this was a generation of great sacrifice, but even greater valor, with a young Bob Russell leading the way. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bataan Death March, POW camp claimed Williamston man. His remains finally rest in US soil
WILLIAMSTON TWP. — Family members and others gathered Saturday, May 3, to inter the remains of a Webberville man who survived the infamous Bataan Death March during World War II, only to die in a Japanese prisoner of war camp months later. U.S. Army Air Corps Sgt. James Swartz's remains were identified 80 years after the war, in August 2024, and returned to Michigan for burial in Williamston Township. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency made the announcement of Swartz's identification in November 2024. Swartz was laid to rest at Summit Cemetery, with about 40 people representing five generations of his family, according to Lori Byrnes. The service include a honor guard. Swartz was a member of 17th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands during World War II. The unit, activated in the Philippines on Oct. 1, 1941, with two attached squadrons equipped with P-35 and P-40 aircraft. By late in December the ground personnel were absorbed by infantry units and some pilots were evacuated to Australia. The remaining pilots continued operations in the Philippines with the few planes that were left, according to the Army Air Corps Museum. Intense fighting led to Allied troops' surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, and Corregidor Island on May 6, 1942, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said. He was reported captured when U.S. forces in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese. The captured service members were subjected to the 65-mile Bataan Death March, and then held at the Cabanatuan POW Camp No. 1, where more than 2,500 POWs perished during the war, Swartz among them, the accounting agency said. According to prison camp and other records, Swartz died Sept. 23, 1942, and was buried in the local Cabanatuan Camp Cemetery in Common Grave 434. He was 21. "Though interred as an Unknown in (Manilla American Cemetery and Memorial), Swartz's grave was meticulously cared for over the past 70 years by the American Battle Monuments Commission," the accounting agency said in a news release. "Today, Sgt. Swartz is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for." In April 2019, as part of the Cabanatuan Project, DPAA exhumed the remains associated with Common Grave 434 and sent them to the DPAA laboratory for analysis. "Systematically working through the records of Unknowns that had originally been buried in over 300 common graves, the project proposes disinterring groups of Unknowns based on the evidence surrounding their original common grave associations. Because of extensive commingling, the Department of Defense is collecting DNA Family Reference Samples for over 2,700 casualties from the camp, both resolved and unresolved," the accounting agency said. Scientists used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence, to identify Swartz's remains. The Armed Forced Medical Examiner System also used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: James Swartz died in the Philippines during WWII. Now he rests in Summit Cemetery
Miami Herald
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
These women inspire and lead with joy through sport and education
For three weeks in March, Kendall teen Brooke Revuelta visited 12 U.S. military bases across six countries to introduce and teach pickleball to troops and their families. Just 19, she was one of four professional pickleball athletes — and the only one from Miami — to travel on a three-week Armed Forces Entertainment tour. The group went to Turkey, Kosovo, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain. Brooke said she was proud to represent her hometown. Her family has lived in the Devon Aire neighborhood for decades. 'Being chosen for this Goodwill Pro Pickleball Military Tour was one of the greatest honors of my career — not just as a professional pickleball player, but as someone who comes from a proud military family,' Brooke said. May is Military Appreciation Month. Her great-grandfather, Major Robert Vories Abram, was a B-24 Airplane Commander in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Her grandfather, James Newton Abram, served in the U.S. Army's 7th Finance in Vietnam, and her stepfather, Jose Gonzalez, was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Georgia, and the 154th Engineer Battalion while stationed in Germany. 'During Military Appreciation Month, it means even more to reflect on the strength, sacrifice, and spirit of our service members. This tour wasn't just about teaching pickleball — it was about saying thank you, building connections and giving back to those who give everything,' she said. Home-schooled through middle school, she played on the varsity tennis team for Miami Palmetto Senior High throughout her high school years. She graduated with the class of 2024. A dynamic, left-handed pickleball athlete with a blend of Cuban, Vietnamese and American heritage, she quickly made a name for herself on the professional pickleball circuit after picking up the sport for fun in February 2023. Last November, Brooke had the opportunity to visit Our Pride Academy, a nonprofit school in Kendall for individuals with developmental disabilities. She led a pickleball clinic for their Special Olympics team. She said seeing the joy and enthusiasm of the players was inspiring, and she plans to return this year for more training sessions. She is the youngest pro athlete selected to tour with Armed Forces Entertainment on the Good Will Pro Pickleball Military Tour to help boost morale through pickleball. Throughout the tour, Brooke and her fellow pros coached, taught and hosted clinics for U.S. troops and their families, as well as residents of some of the overseas base communities. They made sure everyone had a chance to participate. The tour also included pro exhibition matches to showcase elite-level play and tournaments in which service members at all skill levels played with the pros. 'I learned so much from the troops and their families, and I'll carry those experiences with me for the rest of my life,' Brooke said. 'Pickleball brought us together, but the camaraderie and mutual respect made it unforgettable.' Through the goodwill military tour, Brooke not only shared her love for pickleball but continued her mission to give back to those who serve and to grow the sport globally. You can watch her play and follow her journey on Instagram @ CUSHMAN SCHOOL IS 100 In 2012, when then-head of Cushman School Joan Lutton passed the torch to new head Arvi Balseiro, she left a note. 'Lead with joy' is what it said. She has. And now, as Cushman School celebrates its centennial, a community of students, parents, alumni, administrators, faculty and friends are looking back at all the ups and downs, struggles and successes. More than 10,000 students have gone through its doors. In all that time there have been only three women heads of school, visionaries all. The school was founded in 1924 on the front porch of first head Laura Cushman's Morningside home. In March, at its 100 Year Centennial Ball, the co-ed private school raised more than $1 million for continuing into the next century. Under current head Balseiro's leadership, the campus and programming have grown significantly with the addition of the state-of-the-art Play to Learn performing arts and athletics facility, and the launch of the high school as well as an online virtual division to allow even more students to benefit from Cushman's personalized education. This year broke records, with 814 students enrolled in pre-K through 12th grade and waitlists for each division. The high school division, added in 2016, remains intentionally small in size with the Class of 2025 graduating 54 seniors. They earned $5.5 million collectively in merit scholarships for higher education opportunities. The school has a mission to 'embrace a diverse community reflective of a wide variety of cultures, religious practices, languages spoken, learning profiles, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and perspectives.' On its website is one of my favorite quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. — 'We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.' Congratulations on 100 years, Cushman School, and for being a hearty reminder of what female ingenuity can mean for education. Write to ChristinaMMayo@ with news for this column.
