Joe O’Donnell, the man who took this photograph in Nagasaki was dispatched by the United States military to capture the devastation wrought on the Japanese country as a result of air raids with fire bombs and atomic bombs. Beginning in September 1945, he journeyed across Western Japan, chronicling the wreckage and highlighting the misery of bomb victims, including the dead, injured, homeless, and orphaned. Images of human agony were imprinted on both his negatives and his heart.

In the picture, the child stands tall, having completed his job by transporting his dead brother to a cremation site. An evident military influence was standing at attention. It’s heartbreaking to see the youngster who carries his little sibling on his back, retains a stiff upper lip, and tries so hard to be brave. He personifies the spirit of a defeated nation.

“I spotted a ten-year-old youngster walking by. On his back, he was carrying a baby. We saw children in Japan at the time carrying their younger brothers or sisters on their backs, but this boy stood out. I could see he had come to this location for a serious reason. He was not wearing any shoes. His expression was stern. The baby’s head was leaned back, as if he was fast asleep. The boy stood there for perhaps five to 10 minutes.

“The men in white masks approached him and began quietly removing the rope that was holding the baby.” That’s when I realized the baby had died. The men seized the victim by the wrists and feet and burned it. The boy stood there motionless, staring at the flames. He was biting his lower lip so hard that it bled. The flame burnt low, like the sun setting. ” The boy turned around and walked away quietly.

Interesting fact:

This narrative appears to be based on the 1988 Japanese film “Grave of the Fireflies.” A terrible film about a little boy and his younger sister’s battle to survive in Japan during WWII. It’s an extremely compelling film that comes highly recommended.