Readers sound off on Imperial Japan’s surrender, Memorial Day and Trump vs. DeSantis

Manhattan: Rosario Iaconis’ essay, “Hiroshima and the Bomb, then and now” (op-ed, May 20) raises thoughtful points but sometimes misleading ones. All of the military leaders quoted spoke in hindsight after the atomic bomb had been dropped and the war ended. Most of those leaders had their own agendas during the war.

The U.S. Army, including Douglas MacArthur and Dwight D. Eisenhower (in one of the few times these two agreed), had argued before Hiroshima that only a full-scale land invasion of Japan — led, of course, by the Army — would induce surrender. The Army, Air Force and Curtis LeMay were certain that a continued strategic bombing campaign led by the Air Force would have been enough. After all, the fire-bombing of Tokyo killed more people initially than either atomic bomb. The Navy and Leahy argued that their sea blockade of Japan had made capitulation just around the corner.

The surest way to answer the question of what caused their surrender is to ask the Japanese, not American, leaders. Thanks to recent research by Prof. Yukiko Koshiro and others, we now know that news of Hiroshima and of the Soviet Union’s entry into the war against Japan were decisive in driving Emperor Hirohito to order his military to cease resistance.

Hiroshima was unspeakably cruel, but it was as cruel as the firebombing that came before it, and it did play a role in ending the horror of the war itself. Michael Barnhart

Brooklyn: On one Memorial Day, it was a great honor to accompany my friend Claire as she reclaimed a letter and photo of her late Uncle George, who served on the USS Dickerson and died defending our country on March 19, 1942. Her mother always said he was the first young boy from Brooklyn to die in the war. Kathy Reilly

Greenburgh, N.Y.: In recent weeks, the Daily News and community leaders have highlighted the difficulties veterans have had finding affordable housing or even staying in temporary housing. On Memorial Day, I’d like to suggest that the federal, state, county and local governments consider implementing a program that has been successful around the country: tiny homes for veterans. Generally under 500 square feet, tiny homes contain all the features of a regular home, including bathroom, kitchen, dining and sleeping areas. They are energy efficient and usually built with green materials. The cost to build these homes is much cheaper than the average home. Paul Feiner

Woodburn, Ky.: As a Vietnam veteran I certainly appreciate when people acknowledge my time in service, but after seeing a story on the news about an outstanding group of veterans who formed Team Rubicon to provide volunteer assistance after disasters I thought that I must speak up. Memorial Day is not about me and the many hundreds of thousands of veterans in our communities! Memorial Day is about our brothers and sisters in arms who didn’t come home! The ones whose families received a folded flag from “a grateful nation.” We, the living veterans, have our day, Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The how and why of public perception is unimportant. What is important is understanding that Memorial Day is there to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. How each person chooses to honor those veterans is their own decision. Edmond V. Schwab Sr.

Swarthmore, Pa.: On this Memorial Day we celebrate the bravery and commitment of those members of our armed forces who gave their lives in service to their country. They made the ultimate sacrifice. Now think about the likely Republican nominee for president, a man whose infamous “bone spurs” awarded him a medical deferment that kept him safe during the Vietnam War. A man who famously declared that those serving in our armed forces were “losers and suckers.” A man whose total, all-consuming preoccupation is to serve his own needs, wants and desires. This man, Donald Trump, does not deserve to ever again be our commander in chief. We must resolve to not let this happen. It is not hyperbolic to say that the safety and well-being of the U.S. and the world is dependent on keeping Trump out of the White House. Ken Derow

Kew Gardens: How sad is this name-calling, tickle and slap fight between Trump and DeSantis? If we witnessed this as kids in the schoolyard, we would have laughed, calling them sissies, nerds, dorks or punks. At least one of them would have ran home to mommy, crying. Yet these are the candidates we get to choose from for the office of the president of the United States, and that is just at the top. The political landscape is littered these days with all kinds of delusional characters, too numerous to name. Just pick a state. I’ve said it before: None of us should vote until we get a real candidate. Jeff Pullen

Bronx: I find the May 26 Bramhall cartoon to be in horrifically bad taste and spitting on the graves of everyone who died, survived or was maimed on the Hindenburg. Comparing Ron DeSantis’ campaign to the Hindenburg is comparing apples to oranges. Nor am I impressed with your Editorial Board’s cocktail party psycho babble inferences on the opposite page (“Withdrawn DeSantis”). I need more than that and a failed Twitter launch to judge a candidate. Ability to work with GOP party leaders, fundraise, perform in debates and stands on the issues are how I choose to judge a candidate. Note that at this point, I am neutral toward DeSantis. Decades ago, there was a slaughter in a McDonald’s. The headline of one of your rivals was “Big Mac Attack.” I find the cartoon up there in horribly poor taste. Nat Weiner

Forest Hills: So, MGT bought Kevin McCarthy’s lip balm for $100,000. Imagine how much he could get for his used underwear. Linda Sperling

Brooklyn: If you are a politician, you should pay 3% more for a new mortgage. You can afford it with all your bad decisions for us. After all, what would Hunter Biden do? He’s not paying a premium for having good credit. Stop having contempt for people who work every day. My Social Security is in jeopardy? What’s next, power drinks to water the crops? Lisa DeSantis

Manhattan: Mayor Adams seems incapable of standing up to the Woke Dems when it comes to the migrant crisis. He knows how to whine that the feds aren’t doing enough, but it is on his watch that allowed close to 70,000 migrants into the city. The tourist economy is going to get shredded this summer because no hotel rooms are available for people to visit NYC. It is the woke of his own party who insist we remain a sanctuary city and spend billions in tax dollars to house and feed everybody who shows up here. No other city in the world operates this way and it won’t be long before NYC is bankrupt from its own policies. We need political change ASAP! Patricia Clark

Monroe, N.Y.: Too bad Voicer Edward Drossman missed that train that day. He could have reasoned with a mad, psychotic, drug-addled schizophrenic who was very nearly hurting people. He could have dialed 311 and asked counselors for assistance at the next stop. Oh, someone did do that, they’re still waiting for the counselor’s arrival. Monday morning quarterbacking is always best done in the safety of one’s home. Mike Ryan

Camden, N.J.: Recently, my most treasured confidant expressed her love to and for me. Through social media, she stated the risk we took getting a scalper’s Tina Turner ticket for a hometown concert. Nervously entering the gate, the ticket was real. After her official separation from Ike, she went on to become a magnificent superstar rock star. Wayne E. Williams

Bronx: Please bring back the TV puzzles in Saturday’s paper. We can not see this new crossword. I am a senior citizen and it is very difficult to do. I am a long-time subscriber. I like my paper. Felipa Isales