Story Archives of 'World War II'

The atomic bombs that leveled the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945 were like nothing the world had ever seen. The Japanese refer to the "Pika-don," or the “flash-bang”. The devastation in the fractions of seconds between the flash and the bang are now described in illuminating detail in The Last Train From Hiroshima: The Survivors Look Back.

The new book combines contemporary forensic technology with accounts by survivors to paint a graphic portrayal of the aftermath of the blasts, millisecond by millisecond. And as a note of warning, some of the descriptions in this segment may be distrurbing, so we urge listeners to exercise discretion. Author Charles Pellegrino is a scientist and pioneer in the emerging field of forensic archaeology. He applies today's data to explain the fastest deaths in human history - bodies evaporated before a single nerve could register pain; vaporized before the sound of the explosion could be heard a kilometer away.

Along with the horror, we meet Japanese and American pilots, and survivors, including Tsutomu Yamaguchi and others who lived through the bombings of both cities. Yamaguchi, who died earlier this month, dedicated himself to non-proliferation in the hope that no one would experience nuclear attack as he had.

Read an excerpt from The Last Train From Hiroshima

The New York Times: After Atom Bombs’ Shock, the Real Horrors Began Unfolding

Screaming Horses, Broken Minds Tell Atomic Bomb’s Story: Books

(Photo by BlatantNews.com via Flickr/Creative Commons)

Rebecca Boothman recounts stories of her childhood growing up in Randolph, NH and reveals what life was like for her mother when her father went off to fight in World War II.

Though her father was in the military, he didn't approve of her choice of Don, a G.I., as a husband.

The American Legion Post in Dunbarton today handed over to state officials many uniforms that General Frank Merrill wore during World War II.

During the war, Merrill led a unit known as “Merrill’s Marauders” for its role in harassing Japanese troops in the jungles of Burma.

New Hampshire Public Radio’s David Darman has more.