Lanier (APA 125) - Naval Cruise Book

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This contraption undamaged, but Digging for household utensils in where is factory? ' atomic ruins Nagasaki costumes vary Mother and daughter pull heavy wagon, Nagasaki Abandoned Jap auto reveals odd engine, ' well-worn tire Lt. McGregor and terraced hills

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-- i OCCUPATION OF NAGASAKI-Continued anese working parties, who worked like beavers at the unloading process for 5Oc a day cmd a chance at American cigarettes or K Rations, aided the LANIER in its goal to be unloaded as soon as possible. The world's most destructive force-the atomic bomb-reduced to complete nothing- ness an area a half mile wide and a mile in length and further demolished three addi- tional square miles. The exploration was conducted by four LANIER boat officers, act- ing in the following capacities: Ensign W. P. Tuttle, photographer, Lt. ligl T. B. Thornton, reporter, Ensign H. L. Buckmaster, cigarette- bearer, and Lt. C. McGregor, two-striper. In walking up the paved highway which leads to the atomic bomb scene one can see the effects of previous bombings by United States planes. In the more congested city area many homes, shops of all kinds, official city buildings, etc., were all badly bombed, burned out or levelled. But the difference between this kind of bombing and that of the atomic variety was immediately obvious, once there was a chance to compare the two. The difference was this: there was something left to see where the ordinary bombs had ap- parently fallen. But where the full force of the atomic bomb was felt, three concrete archways stood alone along a mile of smooth, level rubble. Our photographer had a most difficult time finding any small spot shielded from the sun which would enable him to change film. The road which parallels the atomic bomb site also parallels the Mitsubishi arms plant, which, bombed most thoroughly, was still a One End of Atomic Valley '

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OCCUPATION OF NAGASAKI Contlnued pile of torn, twisted steel Along this road a constant stream of native Japanese pass all day long. The storybook characters never failed to entertain home-grown U.S. provin cials Among scenes observed by the group tough looking old man a little woman who weighed something under 100 pounds carry ing a blanket roll twice her size, a woman with a baby in a basket dangling on one end of a pole slung across her shoulders, and women with very frightened looks One Jap anese girl did venture a smile, but it was difficult to ascertain whether she was flirt ing or lust trying to be friendly Long files of people passed by, some look ing as if they were taking to the hills others as if they were lust coming back One ricksha was among the curlos, with a little boy pull ing the cart on which rode another little boy They looked as if nobody owned them They did not seem to mmd however It is impossible for an un travelled Amer :can to imagine the costumes visible on Naga saki streets Soldiers with complete uniforms Some men were naked to the waist, wearmg very baggy breeches Some women were at tired in what generously might be called slacks , but which were obviously a salvaged pair of men s trousers Some men wore box like uniform caps, white shirts, shorts, home made cloth leggings with buttons and canvas shoes containing a separate compartment for the big toe One man the group metwas typed as a student because of his horn rimmed glasses, a tie and a black briefcase Another was ascribed as a Shinto priest because of his black robe which nearly swept the ground, and his dignified strut Ens Tuttle watchmg Jap tram fbelow rlghtj Nagasaki bound , . Were: an OX pulling Q Co,-1 led by G Wizenedl were not uncommon, nor were their salutes. - . y 7 . . . . . ll UI ' ' ' l . O I O I O-