On August 6, 1945 the atomic bomb was dropped on the 
Japanese city of Hiroshima. The Enola Gay, piloted by 
Colonel Tibbetts, was chosen to make the mission. The 
mission was recorded as successful by Capt. William S. 
Parson at 9:20 A.M. This was an extremely controversial 
military strategy in the United States. Was the United 
States justified in the dropping of the atomic bomb? Yes, 
they were justified formany reasons. The primary reason was, 
that it would stop the war. Why is it that this war needed 
to be stopped so badly? Even though in some ways it was 
helping our economy, it was very costly in both money and 
lives. Also, the United States soldiers were undergoing 
harsh treatment by the unmerciful Japanese. Another reason 
the war needed to be stopped was to defend ourselves from 
another attack on U.S. soil, which in turn would kill many 
of our U.S. citizens. This is why the war needed to be 
stopped; thus, justifying the use of the atomic bomb.
	World War II was the costliest war in history, in 
terms of lives lost. No exact figures exist, but 
approximately between 15 and 20 million military personnel 
were killed. Of these, 292,000 were Americans and 6,000 
innocent United States citizens were murdered by our 
enemies. It has been estimated that if the United States had 
not dropped the bomb and had invaded Japan instead, the 
United States would have lost about a million soldiers. The 
Japanese suicidal fighting strategies greatly effected this 
number. The Japanese would rather die than surrender. This 
is demonstrated by the battle of Saipan. At this battle over 
half of the population of Saipan walked off a cliff instead 
of surrendering to the United States. This was often very
effective. Many times when a Japanese soldier decided to 
blow himself up instead of surrendering he would kill many 
Americans with the same blast. Also the kamikaze techniques 
of the Japanese fighters killed many soldiers. If this war 
would have continued we could have lost thousands more.  
Also up to this point we spent 300 billion dollars on war 
efforts. Many materials and other objects were damaged. Any 
estimate on how much money was lost in damages would be 
futile. This number would have continued to rise if it had
not been for the use of the atomic bomb. 
	The horrendous atrocities that occurred during World 
War II were unmerciful as well as unnecessary. During one 
invasion of China, the rape of Nanking, the Japanese killed 
100,000 Chinese civilians. They were burned, butchered, and 
raped. Sometimes the Japanese would tie a big group of them
together and use them for bayonet and sword practice. After 
the fall of Bataan the soldiers were forced to go on a  
death march. During this march many unheard of things 
happened to the soldiers. A soldier was often killed for 
trying to get a drink of water. If a soldier fell down the 
Japanese would either bayonet them or knock them 
unconscious. Once they were knocked unconscious, the 
Japanese then forced another American soldier to bury the 
unconscious soldier alive. One soldier once commented, "The 
worst time was once when a burial victim with about six 
inches of earth over him suddenly regained consciousness and 
clawed his way out until he was almost sitting upright. Then 
I learned to what length a man will go to hang onto his 
life. The bayonets began to prod me in the side and I was 
forced to bash the soldier over the head with the shovel and
then finish burying him."(Kappler, Pg. 168) This harsh 
treatment to innocent civilians and our soldiers
needed to stop. The atomic bomb was a way to stop it.
	On December 7, 1941," A day that will live in 
infamy," Pearl Harbor was deliberately attacked by the 
Japanese. Reports indicate that 2400 people were killed and 
1300 were wounded. The reason Japan bombed Pearl Harbor was 
because that was where all of our Navy ships were 
positioned. They were hoping to take out the Navy and were 
almost successful. The aircraft carriers were expected to be 
in the harbor, but luckily were not. Although the attack may 
have been a military success in the minds of the Japanese it
became a huge mistake in the final analysis. One reason it 
was a mistake was it caused the U.S. to enter the war. We 
were the ultimate cause to Japan losing the war. Secondly it 
made the Americans angry and determined to destroy the 
Japanese. Many congressmen volunteered for active duty, 
asking for a one day respite to cast their vote for war. 
Also recruiting offices were flooded with young patriots who 
wanted to help there country out. This attack was just an 
example of what could have happened if the war had
continued. If the war had continued another attack on U.S. 
soil could have taken place. This could have turned the 
6,000 dead American civilians into 9,000 dead civilians. 
That number could have kept rising until the war was over. 
That is another reason the bomb needed to be dropped to stop 
the war. 
	The war was a horrible thing. It killed millions and 
destroyed the lives of millions more. It lasted six years 
and could have lasted longer; with death and destruction 
increasing every year. Ending such a horrible thing should 
be reason enough to drop the atomic bomb. The cruelty of the 
Japanese at such places as Bataan and Nanking was horrible 
and needed to be stopped. Although the atomic bomb caused 
much death devastation it indirectly saved lives. America 
made their power known by frightening other European
powers. This bombing has serviced to prohibit future attacks 
on American soil. The atomic bomb was the best solution. The 
atomic bomb may have killed thousands, but it saved 
millions.