[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I just finished reading Churchill’s “The Second World War” which addresses Truman’s decision to use the A-bomb. According to the book, there was a consensus among the allied nations at Potsdam to use the bomb if Japan rejected the ultimatum. Japan did reject the ultimatum, we used the bomb once, still no surrender, we used it again, then surrender.
Attacking the home islands a la Okinawa would have likely resulted in up to a million US casualties.

I have a particular interest in ending the war, since my Dad was serving in the Pacific, in the US Navy at the end of the War, and he might not have survived the War. Had that happened, I would not have been born, as would millions of boomers.

[Graybeard58]

I would not have been born, as would millions of boomers.

There's a whole ping list of people here who wouldn't see that as a bad thing. (I'm not among them)

[elpadre]

the blood of those who died as a result of the bombs is not on any American - it is splattered on the Japanese leaders who knowing full well what to expect, refused to surrender.

Those bombs saved not only a generation of American men, but saved even more Japanese lives that would have been lost as a result of the readying invasion of the islands.

Remember the Japan of that day was just as evil as the AlQuaida today - no atrocity their mind could concoct was off the table.

[Lurking in Kansas]

Had that happened, I would not have been born, as would millions of boomers.

A fact never mentioned.

If not for the "Bomb", the war would have continued for at least 2-3 more years. There is a good chance there would not have been a 'Baby-Boomer' generation, or not as it is known today.