March 28, 2001

Dear Arjun:

The statement "It presumes the people," etc.* is deserving of a very special article.

Since 1972, [I] have been an advocate for justice for Atomic Veterans having worked with NAAV [National Association of Atomic Veterans], NARS, [National Association of Radiation Survivors], DAV [Disabled American Veterans], American Legion and VFW [Veterans of Foreign Wars] and on one occasion around 1986 met you at an appearance with then Representative Simon of Illinois.

On many occasions at meetings of the above named organizations and at committees and individuals meetings with members of Congress, [I] stated that it had always concerned me that the Marine Corps never trusted us enough to warn of the dangers of radiation before assigning us to Nagasaki in late 1945. It was as though we would have revolted or refused to accept the assignment.

It happened that I was 32 years old at that time and deeply resented the fact that young men 18-21 years old etc. who were good enough to send to such places as Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, etc., could not be trusted with words of precaution about the possibility of exposure while on duty in Nagasaki.

The result was that many drank from the reservoir, went sightseeing all over the Urakami District, and I for one helped Bishop Paul Yamaguchi during November 1945 crawl through the wreckage of his Cathedral looking for items he could salvage. He even gave me a large wooden cross that had been an ornament over the choir loft. I brought it home with me and it is now in the Hiroshima-Nagasaki collection -- museum at a college in Ohio. On New Year's Day 1946 two Marine football teams even played the "Atomic Bowl" game at Ground Zero the only clear space.

This secrecy and distrust of our citizens has probably been going on for years but evidently with the advent of World War II, it became an every day occurrence. One only has to read such books as "Day of Deceit," "Making of the Atomic Bomb," "The Decision to Use the Bomb," plus of course Carole Gallagher's excellent book "American Ground Zero," etc. to note how this policy of life and death decisions should only be made by the various Presidents involved and a few key advisors without the informed consent of the people. The message is, "They cannot be trusted."

You are to be commended for stressing this concept in your article and truly the subject is deserving of a detailed study by your fine group.

Sincerely,

Walter G. Hooke
Cambridge, New York