Description:

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE ATOMIC BOMBING OF HIROSHIMA
Unique and historically crucial eyewitness narrative of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by penned by one G.T. Hun, a Korean officer serving in the Japanese Army and stationed in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped on the city on August 6, 1945 causing the immediate death of almost 50,000 people, and ultimately taking about 80,000 lives - almost all civilian. At the time Korea was occupied by Japan, and many Koreans were serving in the Japanese military or at forced labor supporting the Japanese war effort. The description is beautifully written in formal calligraphy on two 15 x 17 inch sheets of top quality Japanese rice paper. The narrative was written in 1947 while the events were still fresh in his Hun's mind, and he addresses the piece to American Army Lt. Arthur William Fridl (1924-2013), a 1945 West Point graduate from Brooklyn who was stationed in Korea shortly after the war. Hun also included a note in English reading: '22 October 47. To: Mr. Fridl, from a Dumb Boy. I wish you Good Luck'. There are also two English translations of the letter, though the length of the original letter leads one to speculate that the English translations may be partial. Combining the two translations provides us with a dramatic account of the bombing. Having been up late the previous evening, Hun had risen later than usual, and that may well have saved his life. He writes, in part: '...Upon the request of Lt. A. W. Fridl FA U.S. Army I am going to describe my experience with the Atom Bomb...I am still bashful of the fact that I was once a Japanese Army officer...I was stationed in Hiroshima and had command of 159 soldiers and one officer...I had the duty of being officer of the day...At about 0815 while looking out of my window I noticed my men on the drill field and decided to inspect their training. As I was coming down the steps from the officer's quarters, I was distracted by a violently bright light...It appeared to be from the explosion of an electron fire bomb which I had witnessed before, only much more intensive...I immediately fell to the floor and sought shelter...I had already become a casualty, but since I felt no pain I didn't realize it. In a moment I heard a thunderous noise which sounded like a 100-kilogram bomb exploding near by the barracks, which were almost completely demolished, were surrounded by smoke and gas. I took very little time in adjusting my gas mask, shutting my eyes while doing so to protect them...' Apparently in shock, Hun then walked aimlessly around the streets of Hiroshima, witnessing first-hand the immediate and terrible consequences of the explosion. He continues: '...At a playground I saw people's bodies stacked all around like mountains. Dying people were crying and weeping 'save me.' The ground still shook from this great explosion, and it was difficult to stand up. I could still see the airplane flying in the sky...I climbed a hill and saw a lot of people dead on the road. All their clothing was gone and the bodies were all like negroes. Many people were dying and were trying to escape to somewhere. I did not see any animals alive. All were dead. Many people who were injured jumped in a ditch and drank water. They all died. I found out that this was an Atomic Bomb. A new weapon...Most citizens of Hiroshima were dead, and there was no police power in town for three or four days. No one came to this city to offer aid. They were afraid of the rays which burned people to death...' During the explosion, one of Hun's arms may have been badly wounded by heat and radiation. He notes: '...I was burned about the arm. I went into a ruined building and applied grease to my arm. It was not sore, but the flesh was eaten away. The nerves were not responsive. My skin where I was burned was turned a bright yellow color….On August 9th my arm suddenly became very sore. I was in a bad condition very close to death. I was unaware of what was happening to me...Doctors said my arm was so hot that it was 41 degrees hotter than my body...After the fever left me, I recovered health. When the war was over, I left Hiroshima and went to Busan, Korea...The Japanese people are not good at scientific warfare. They wished for peace. This weapon is the worst weapon in the world. Maybe the 21st century a most deadly weapon will be found, and maybe it will be even greater than this…' Hun concludes with some additional important comments: '…Anyone at Hiroshima that wore white clothes was not burned very much…If burned do not drink water…Treat any burns…with grease and salve...The majority of the people in the area of 20 miles die within two weeks...(signed) G. T. Hun' Unfortunately, we have no information of what Hun did postwar or how long he lived. This account was written two years after the event, and Hun very likely suffered a premature death from the effects of radiation. Needless to say, unpublished Hiroshima accounts, let alone one as vivid as this one, are virtually unknown. The account is in superb condition, entirely presentable and frameable. This is the only first-hand account of the Hiroshima bombing which we have ever seen come to market.

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March 26, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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