Survivor O
I believe we had summer vacation that year. August 6, 1945, was Monday. We used to sing an old song that said, “Monday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Friday.” And that was just how it was: it was even true for elementary school students. In the name of “student mobilization” we had to constantly work alongside and assist adults. Those in 3rd to 6th grades were helping with demolition. That meant we were helping to remove or disassemble wood from a building. The 2nd grade was helping the younger students go below during an air raid; the wooden buildings would be burned quickly. So everyone was in a group, and the 2nd grade was helping the others to go down to the building’s basement.
(After the bombing) When I came up from the basement and out into the playground, the air was full of an odd smell and there should have been a blue sky, but there wasn’t. I saw the rising black smoke and soot from the blast hanging in the air, but I think quite a bit of time passed. The buildings on the west side of the school were completely gone. I couldn’t see anyone clearly, though there were shadows moving. Everyone seemed to be crawling, or leaping up. Toward the rear gate near the wooden school building were the bodies of what I think were [telecom company] service guards. I waved them off without flames. (The fire from the explosion) then picked up my untouched wet shoes. The people in the playground might have been burned up instantly. I don’t know.