I Was an A-Bomb Baby

The author reflects on growing up in the shadow of the Hiroshima bombing and the ongoing nuclear threat.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The author, born 10 days before the Hiroshima bombing, shares their personal experiences growing up during the Cold War era, including nuclear attack drills, bomb shelters, and recurring nuclear war nightmares. They emphasize that the United States remains the only country to have used nuclear weapons in wartime, and express ongoing concerns about the persistent threat of nuclear warfare.

Why it matters

The author's firsthand account provides a unique perspective on the profound psychological and societal impacts of living under the shadow of nuclear weapons, especially for those born in the immediate aftermath of the first atomic bombings. Their reflections highlight the lasting trauma and unease that the use of nuclear weapons has inflicted on generations of Americans.

The details

The author describes vivid memories of their childhood, including nuclear attack drills where children dove under desks, the first radios with CONELRAD triangles to mark emergency frequencies, and their father building a bomb shelter during the Cuban Missile Crisis. They also recount recurring nightmares about a nuclear explosion in Los Angeles. Throughout their 80 years, the author has remained an ardent anti-nuclear activist, troubled by the fact that the US is the only nation to have used atomic weapons in war.

  • The author was born 10 days before the Hiroshima bombing in 1945.
  • The author's father built a bomb shelter under their house when the author was 14 years old, during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

The players

The author

An 80-year-old individual who was born shortly before the Hiroshima bombing and grew up during the Cold War era, experiencing the psychological impacts of the nuclear threat firsthand.

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What they’re saying

“THE USA IS THE ONLY NATION THAT HAS EVER USED A NUCLEAR WEAPON DURING WARTIME!”

— The author (democraticunderground.com)

The takeaway

The author's personal story underscores the lasting trauma and unease that the use of nuclear weapons has inflicted on generations of Americans, and serves as a powerful reminder of the grave consequences of nuclear warfare, even decades after the first atomic bombings.