[Xfactor]

Sent by the U.S. military to document the damage inflicted on the Japanese homeland caused by air raids of fire bombs and atomic bombs. Over the next seven months starting September 1945, he traveled across Western Japan chronicling the devastation, revealing the plight of the bomb victims including the dead, the wounded, the homeless and orphaned. Images of the human suffering was etched both on his negatives and his heart.

In the photo, the boy stands erect, having done his duty by bringing his dead brother to a cremation ground. Standing at attention was an obvious military influence. Looking at the boy who carries his younger sibling on his back, keeps a stiff upper lip, tries so hard to be brave is heart-breaking. He has epitomized the spirit of a defeated nation.

[emarieu]

Sad for both kids....so young to carry such a burden

[Pyramid_Head]

Such a haunting photo.

[Xfactor]

Originally Posted by Pyramid_Head ↗

Such a haunting photo.

Yeah it is. Imaging him walking home.

[Kelseecat65]

Very sad.

[nyazzip]

I'm just concerned about the baby's damn neck... Ouch!

[nyazzip]

Kid probably had ptsd; otherwise a bit odd for a kid that age to be all ceremonial and observant of the somber death rituals. Or maybe the Time-Life photographers were paying him a couple yen for the drama

[quartermain]