An “atomic veteran” was a military service member who:
- Participated in an above-ground nuclear test between 1945 and 1962; or
- Was part of the U.S. military occupation forces in or around Hiroshima/Nagasaki before 1946; or
- Was held as a Prisoner of War in or near Hiroshima or Nagasaki (certain cases)
At the time of their service, they were told not to discuss their involvement in nuclear tests because the information was classified. But in 1996, the Repeal of Nuclear Radiation and Secrecy Agreements Laws was passed, allowing atomic veterans to finally seek overdue medical care.
Today, there are fewer than ten atomic veterans still alive. Three of them are finally speaking out.
In “Atomic Echoes: Untold Stories of World War II,” two American literary writers discovered their ancestors fought on opposing sides of the war in the Pacific. They decided to follow their roots across the United States and back to Japan to explore how nuclear war impacted the people who lived through it.
Karin Tanabe’s great-great uncle became the first president of Hiroshima University after World War II, while Victoria Kelly’s late grandfather was an American atomic veteran who served as a medic in Nagasaki, who arrived just 45 days after the bomb dropped.
In this new documentary, which will air on PBS nationwide to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings, Tanabe and Kelly share stories from both the hibakusha (the Japanese atomic bomb survivors) and the American atomic veterans, men who suffered radiation-related illness and trauma in classified silence.
The writers speak with three atomic veterans who reveal their personal accounts for the first time. Alongside their stories, Tanabe and Kelly learn about how the cities were rebuilt after the war.
(Beatrice Becette/Blue Chalk Media)
When Kelly discovers a flag given to a Japanese soldier by his family to protect him during the war, the two decide to embark on a journey to return it to Japan. Along the way, they tell a story of reconciliation, reflection, and the need for peace.
“As the world once again feels the threat of nuclear conflict, we hope this film brings the human cost back into focus. We hope to never forget the victims of the bombs — on both sides. May their stories inspire future generations to abolish nuclear weapons.”
“Atomic Echoes: Untold Stories of World War II” premieres on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS App beginning August 1, 2025. For more informationmvisit the film’s website and Instagram.
