after a detonation (H+1) will decay to one-tenth its former level within the next 7 hours. Two days after the detonation, the radiation intensity would have dropped to about one-hundredth of its H+1 value. Two weeks after the detonation, the intensity would have decayed to about one-thousandth of its H+1 value. The reduction of radioactivity was aided by heavy rains during autumn 1945 that washed away some of the residual radiation. Between the bombings and the start of the occupation, approximately 62 centimeters (24 inches) of rain fell in Hiroshima and 82 centimeters (32 inches) in Nagasaki. The heavy rainfall continued during the occupation, and by 1 November the cumulative total since the bombing was 91 centimeters (36 inches) in Hiroshima and 122 centimeters (48 inches) in Nagasaki. 6.3 OCCUPATION OF JAPAN. The occupation of the western portion of Honshu Island (which containg Hiroshima), the southern Japanese islands of Kyushu (where Nagasaki is located), and Shikoku was the responsibility of the Sixth U.S. Army, consisting of the I and X Army Corps and the V Amphibious Corps (Marines). Corps had three divisions and supporting units. Each The occupation force for this portion of Japan totaled some 240,000 troops. The mission of the occupation troops was to establish control of the home islands of Japan, ensure compliance with the surrender terms, and demilitarize the Japanse war machine. The duties did not include the "cleanup" of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, or any other areas, nor the rebuilding of Japan. 6.3.1 Hiroshima Occupation. Two divisions, both part of X Corps of the Sixth Army, accomplished the occupation of the counties in the vicinity of Hiroshima: e 41st Division, 7 October 1945 to December 1945 e 24th Division, December 1945 to 6 March 1946, when the U.S. occupation of Hiroshima came to an end. §\ “Y 159 |