Remember Nagasaki, too

Every year on Aug. 6, Japanese and other people stop to observe the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Somehow, the second target, Nagasaki, and its victims are often overlooked even though 74,000 died and another 74,000 were wounded on Aug. 9.

Some historians have contended that bombing Hiroshima was justified but have questioned the necessity for hitting Nagasaki when Japan was reeling toward defeat. The reason: American military leaders had planned an atomic campaign against Japan because no one knew the consequences of the first bomb.

When President Truman gave the go-ahead in July 1945, four targets were listed: Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata and Nagasaki. The order read: "Additional bombs will be delivered on the above targets as soon as made ready by the project staff. Further instructions will be issued concerning targets other than those listed above."

After Nagasaki was struck, President Truman ordered a halt while Japanese leaders engaged in a fierce debate about capitulating. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15.

In a terrifying footnote, Robert Trumbull, the Tokyo correspondent of The New York Times, discovered years later that nine Japanese had survived Hiroshima and fled to Nagasaki, where they endured the second bombing -- and survived again.

Richard Halloran

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