Making Balloon Bombs

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

I found this reading to be a very good prespective from a child during the war. I didn't realize that childeren were that involved in the war that they wouldn't go to school to make equipment for the war. The girls at the making the balloons weren't treated that well either. They worked long hours and hardly had enough to eat. It might be in interesting idea to have student compare and contrast what student in Japn and the US were doing at this time in support of the war effort.

[Anonymous]

The thought of balloon bombs is both innovative and frightening all at once. The innovation that went in to that concept must have been immense. At the same time, it also demonstrates the desperateness of the Japanese. If this tactic had been successful =to any degree the results could have been devastating tothe US.

[Anonymous]

The description of the Japanese girl's experience making baloon bombs illustrated the complete commitment demonstrated by seemingly the entire population. The girls cut themselves and wrote their desire to serve the country in their own blood! They decided to forego their opportunity for an education in order to join themselves to an all out effort to win the war. I'm sure they would readily have given their lives in this cause. Amazing.

[Anonymous]

Between 1944 and 1945, more than 9,300 balloon bombs were launched!! Some even reached the northwestern parts of the United States. Its overwhelmingly fascinating when Japan goes to war, the entire countries citizens go to war as well. Turning the schools into factories and erecting stands to make these bombs is unbelievable. And how horrible the young girls were treated, working them nearly to death and giving them experimental pills to keep the necessity to sleep at bay. Nothing good comes from war. Death, destruction and despair are always key results.

[Anonymous]

I really like this reading, because I didn't know kids were involved in making weapons. I also appreciate how this reading is very easy and accessible for students. Reading from the perspective of a teenager I think will help my students connect more or at least more gravitating. This reading is also helpful to show how during a time of war populations are "brainwashed" for the sake of the nation to do things maybe we would not normally do. Really good reading.

[Anonymous]

I actually saw a show on "attic finds" or something along those lines where a team goes out and investigates the history of things people have found in their basements or attics. On one of the show they found a piece of a balloon bomb. They actually went in a researched the materials that were used for the bombs and discussed much of what this article presented. I had never heard of such things before this. On that show they stated that the balloon bombs were suspected to have started a few fires, but no one knew for sure because the US did not want the citizens to feel threatened at the time. The entire balloon bomb threat was kept very quiet in the US.

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