I have read about 60% of the book “Unbroken” and I am at the point where the Japanese American POW’s learn of the nuclear bombing of Japan and their pending freedom. It caused me to re-visit my thoughts on the right or wrong of the bombing but the below passage stating 37% of the Japanese held American POW’s were dying adds a bit more insight into the decision by President Truman to drop the bomb. I suspect it was part of the justification to commit such an act. The movie of the New York Times best seller “Unbroken” is due out in December and if it is 1/2 as good as the book I am sure you will enjoy it.
Quote from the book “Unbroken”:
“In its rampage over the east, Japan had brought atrocity and death on a scale that staggers the imagination. In the midst of it were the prisoners of war. Japan held some 132,000 POWs from America , Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Holland, and Australia. Of those, nearly 36,000 died, more than one in every four. * Americans fared particularly badly; of the 34,648 Americans held by Japan , 12,935— more than 37 percent—died. * By comparison, only 1 percent of Americans held by the Nazis and Italians died.”
Below highlights the Hero Louis Zamperini. To enlarge below image just click on it:
Bikesafe's Blog 