Posted on 07/26/2015 8:34:14 PM PDT by Theoria
Benjamin Bederson turned past the page in the diary from long ago, the page he had burned a hole through, and mentioned things he had done since that summer of 1945. “Was an experimental atomic physicist,” he said. “Worked as a professor at New York University, taught almost every course in physics, was editor in chief of the American Physical Society and helped usher physics journals into the electronic age.”
He left out the part about helping to usher in the atomic age — the part about testing the ignition switches for the atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945. The part about having been one of the lowest-ranking soldiers assigned to the Manhattan Project, the huge research-and-development effort that delivered the first atomic devices, and as a corporal or a private in his early 20s, one of the youngest. The part about having been one of the few soldiers sent to key spots at key moments as the work progressed.
“That makes it sound a little grandiose,” Dr. Bederson, now 93, said modestly.
He did not even have his bachelor’s degree then, having suspended his undergraduate work at City College of New York to join the Army Signal Corps as a civilian. Before long, he was drafted, and after three days of basic training in Atlantic City, the Army sent him to Illinois and Ohio — and then canceled the program it had put him in to learn electrical engineering. His commanding officer had heard that something called the Manhattan Project was looking for soldiers, and told him to apply.
“He knew I was a loudmouthed New Yorker,” said Dr. Bederson, who grew up in the Bronx. “He said, ‘Here’s your chance to get back to New York.’”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Another interview he did, kinda neat.
My mother worked on the Manhattan Project and was so proud of her contribution. She passed away last year at age 95.
What an amazing life he’s had!
Over 500,000 people worked on the Manhattan Project. Approximately 1% of the total workforce.
After serving in Europe my Dad was on a ship heading toward Japan...when the Atomic bombs dropped...
Without the Atomic bombs, I probably would not have been created...
The atomic bombs probably saved Japan millions of lives and 3 more years of suffering, starvation, ...we were preparing to use poison gas and anything else to end the war...we were taking 17 year old kids out of high school one year early...
Plus it saved at least half of Japan from falling under Soviet domination.
I like the part of “three days of basic training”. My Father joined the Army Air Corp in 1942. When they found out he had an A&E license he spent only six days in basic.
Bump
To Read Later
Agreed.
MCF, I like your tag line.
I was on Leyte in a short line getting my combat gear for the invasion of Japan. To be candid and honest my emotions were mixed. My brother had been killed on Okinawa a few weeks earlier and I was a very angry infantry replacement wanting some revenge, yes,even at my own peril. However I also realized dropping the bombs saved many US lives including probably mine. The bombs were by far the wiser of alternatives.
Thank you for clearing the decks for later generations like mine to live the life we’ve been able to live. And God bless the memory of your brother.
bfl
Mum95 year old uncle (still living) worked on it, too. He was a young mechanical engineer and was a production leader at Oak Ridge on one of the separation lines. He doesn’t think it was much of a big deal. My dad (his brother) was aboard an invasion vessel in the Pacific 70 years ago today. Their lives were intertwined in an interesting way in addition to being brothers.
My 95 year old...
(Typing on iPad is impossible)
bf
Until recently, I worked and lived in Los Alamos. My next door neighbor there is now 97. He was a chemist at the lab and, among other things, witnessed the Trinity test. He had some amazing stories.
My dad worked on the Manhattan Project, and was one of the few who actually worked IN Manhattan (at Columbia University). His field was U235/U238 separation.
I saw Benjamin Bederson speak in person last year. What a engaging speech. You could not help but hold this man in awe. What a great American.
I had no idea how huge & involved that project just in Oak Ridge was until we watched the documentary on PBS. A whole city was created very quickly to accommodate the personnel that supported that project.
There were members of our family who were on their way to Japan when the first bomb was dropped. (They were actually on a ship headed for Japan.) Their commanding officer lined them up & told them, “Look to your right, then to your left. We are invading Japan. They are prepared to kill one out of every three of us.” - My father was a hardened combat veteran of N. Africa, Sicily, Italy & Germany. If Truman hadn’t had the guts to use those bombs; I’m sure Daddy would have ended up in Japan. I wasn’t born until AFTER the war.
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