62 years

There's something strange about anniversaries. We use them to commemorate joyous times such as weddings or birthdays to remind us that life is good and that we are happy. But today is the 62nd anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. This anniversary is used for quiet reflection to remember those that were lost when the American's unleashed the fury of nuclear weaponry. 140,000 people were wiped out in an instant with thousands more suffering from hideous side-effects that were passed from mother to child. Hiroshima was the beginning of the end of World War II. With the victory in Europe over the Nazi forces the US was forced to quell the violence in the Pacific. The dangerous prospect of 'island-hopping' would leave hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers dead and the Japanese army and civilians were fanatical in their defence of their homeland. Did Truman have little chance but to use the nuclear weapons provided? Some believe that in doing so he saved more Allied and Japanese lives due to the quick surrender by the Emperor. Could have exploding the bomb into the sea have yielded the same result?
Even with hindsight these questions are asked but still, regardless of your answer we remember those that were lost.