Japanese man certified as double A-bomb victim (Was in both bombings)

Boston.com ^ | 3/24/2009 | Mari Yamaguchi

[raybbr]

TOKYO—A 93-year-old Japanese man has become the first person certified as a survivor of both U.S. atomic bombings at the end of World War II, officials said Tuesday.

Tsutomu Yamaguchi had already been a certified "hibakusha," or radiation survivor, of the Aug. 9, 1945, atomic bombing in Nagasaki, but has now been confirmed as surviving the attack on Hiroshima three days earlier as well, city officials said.

Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip on Aug. 6, 1945, when a U.S. B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on the city. He suffered serious burns to his upper body and spent the night in the city. He then returned to his hometown of Nagasaki just in time for the second attack, city officials said.

"As far as we know, he is the first one to be officially recognized as a survivor of atomic bombings in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki," Nagasaki city official Toshiro Miyamoto said. "It's such an unfortunate case, but it is possible that there are more people like him."

Certification qualifies survivors for government compensation -- including monthly allowances, free medical checkups and funeral costs -- but Yamaguchi's compensation will not increase, Miyamoto said.

[raybbr]

That was such an interesting story I gave its own thread.

[cripplecreek]

Either really lucky or really unlucky.

[Jeff Chandler]

That poor man. I hope all that radiation doesn’t shorten his life.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Keith Richards’ father, IMO.

[vladimir998]

He is 93. We should all be so lucky to reach that age.

[Raster Man]

He must glow at night.

[Eyes Unclouded]

I am reminded of the man who saw the start of the civil war (had property in bull run area) then said to hell with this and moved ... to Appomattox.

[skeeter]

Japan’s answer to Joe Blflspk.

[skeeter]

Joe Btfsplk, that is.

[Mikey_1962]

Reminds me of that nurse that was on the Titanic, the Britannic and the Olympic when they all sank.

Three for three! The real trifecta.

[Wyatt's Torch]

Keith Richards’ father, IMO.

LMFAO!!! Reminds me of a comic 20 years ago that said the only two things that would survive a nuclear holocaust would be roaches and Keith Richards...

[Veto!]

Apparently radiation wasn’t all that bad for him.

Does he get to have two funerals when he croaks?

[goat granny]

LOL good one

[mkjessup]

Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip on Aug. 6, 1945, when a U.S. B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on the city. He suffered serious burns to his upper body and spent the night in the city. He then returned to his hometown of Nagasaki just in time for the second attack, city officials said.

Maybe he could travel to Tehran after Netanyahu is officially in charge, and he could make it three for three, LOL

[Secret Agent Man]

I believe he may be both.

[A.A. Cunningham]

'Lucky' Yamaguchi

[Tuketu]

As far as I can see, carrying on an unspecified “business” in a “defeated” but not surrendered or pacified Japan means he was a combatant IMHO. Hope he talks about the horror of waging a vicious war, initiated with a sneak attack, when he talks about the horrors of an A-Bomb blast. (Based on the killed survived ratio, the odds were in his favor, so luck had nothing to do with it... just a low yield bomb.)

[Tribune7]

So is he the luckiest guy who ever lived or is he the unluckiest guy who ever lived?

[sionnsar]

So is he the luckiest guy who ever lived or is he the unluckiest guy who ever lived?

You have to say he was not lucky, but he's fortunate to have lived long beyond most our spans.

The war ended a LONG time ago -- I say best of luck (and long life) to him.