LIGHT, DARKNESS; HIROSHIMA SURVIVOR TELLS HORRIFIC STORY.Byline: Leilani Albano Daily News Staff Writer Survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb atomic bomb or A-bomb, weapon deriving its explosive force from the release of atomic energy through the fission (splitting) of heavy nuclei (see nuclear energy). The first atomic bomb was produced at the Los Alamos, N.Mex. remember those devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. moments as if they happened yesterday. ``It was powerful blast,'' said Kaz Suyeishi, who recalled the August morning when the bomb exploded. For all its destructive intensity, however, the blast was strangely silent, said Suyeishi, who stood only a mile and a half from ground zero. ``I didn't hear anything,'' she said, recalling only the brilliant bright light of the explosion. Suyeishi, then 18, was talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to a neighbor in front of her home when the blast started. ``I covered my eyes and hands like this,'' she said, demonstrating a disaster drill technique she learned as a child. ``And then I dove like a baseball player.'' That was when she remembered jumping out into the street, narrowly escaping serious injury just moments before the blast hit. Her family wasn't so fortunate. Her father, who remained in the house, suffered third-degree burns third-degree burns npl → brûlures fpl au troisième degré third-degree burns third npl → Verbrennungen pl dritten Grades . Her brother was injured after parts of a school building fell on him. All three survived the bombings. Suyeishi was among 40 people who attended services at the Koyosan Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo on Sunday commemorating the day the Hiroshima bombings shattered people's lives - Aug. 6, 1945. More than 240,000 people died as a result of the bombs that hit first Hiroshima and, days later, Nagasaki. The services, that lasted for about two hours, featured an incense incense, perfume diffused by the burning of aromatic gums or spices. Incense was used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome and is mentioned in the Old and the New Testaments. It is also found in the major religions of Asia. dedication, musical performances and speakers. Fourth-generation Japanese-American Ryan Oban, a recording artist with the group Floating House, performed a song dedicated to Suyeishi based on her story. The emotional tune of the services was high. ``For many years, I tried very hard to forget,'' said Suyeishi tearfully, ``but it was impossible.'' She continues to travel throughout the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. telling her story as being among the last hibakusha, or living survivors of the bombings. Instead of trying to forget, she now concentrates on educating others about the ravages rav·age v. rav·aged, rav·ag·ing, rav·ages v.tr. 1. To bring heavy destruction on; devastate: A tornado ravaged the town. 2. of war, hoping her lessons will motivate people to work toward peaceful solutions. ``We should remember it was a horrendous thing,'' said Frances Nakamura, who is part of the chanting group Eiyu Kai kai Noun NZ informal food [Maori] kai noun N.Z. (informal) food, grub (slang) provisions, fare, board, commons, eats (slang , which performed at the service. ``The purpose is that we don't repeat our mistakes.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Kaz Suyeishi, 71, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, prays Sunday in Little Tokyo. Myung J. Chun/Daily News |
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