Question

The quote below was written in the 1940s:

"There was almost no talk I can remember on our trip back to the base. It was just too much to express in words, I guess. We were all in a kind of state of shock. I think the foremost thing in all our minds was that this thing was going to bring an end to the war and we tried to look at it that way."

-Sergeant Joseph Stiborik, Radar Operator on the Enola Gay

What conclusion can you draw from this statement?
A. The crew of the Enola Gay had participated in atomic testing before their mission.
B. The crew of the Enola Gay was responsible for the order to drop the bomb.
C. The crew of the Enola Gay believed that the atomic bomb was the best way to force Japan’s surrender.
D. The crew of the Enola Gay did not care that they had caused civilian casualties.

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. The crew of the Enola Gay believed that the atomic bomb was the best way to force Japan’s surrender.

Step-by-step explanation:

Enola Gay was the first bomber used to drop an atomic bomb; it was named after the pilot's mother. Joseph Stiborik was part of the crew as he operated the radar.

Letter C is the correct answer since Seargent Stiborik mentioned that "this thing was going to bring an end to the war", in spite of the huge amount of civilian casualties. It does not mean the crew did not care about them, since there was almost no talk. Based on the excerpt, it is not possible to figure out if they had participated in atomic testing before. Also, the crew only followed orders, which came from the very highest positions.

Answer 2

Answer: C. The crew of the Enola Gay believed that the atomic bomb was the best way to force Japan’s surrender.

Step-by-step explanation:

Stilborik's reflection illustrates how at the time, the bombing of Hiroshima seemed as the only way to stop the conflict and avoid further casualties. The war had dragged on for three months after Germany's surrender, Imperial Japan had not yet accepted defeat and many generals feared that in order to ensure an allied victory, Japan would have to be occupied the same way they had occupied Germany, which meant millions of futher military and civilian casualties. In order to end a war that could have dragged on for two more years according to some analysts, the U.S. dropped the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to force Japan's surrender without the need of a costly and brutal land invasion.