1862 versus 1945 – War is WarIn reading both Whitman's "Civil War Diary" and Hachiya's "Hiroshima Diary", the suffering of humanity and the consequences of war remain the same: people suffer, lands are destroyed and life is no longer the same. Through daily entries in “Civil War Diary,” Whitman virtually writes down his thoughts as they happen, penning his vivid and heartbreaking observations. In "Hiroshima Diary", Hachiya's memories are similar to Whitman's in how they affected his life and the lives of his countrymen. Despite over 80 years having passed since these writings and the vast cultural differences between the two authors and their countries, the shock, fear and sadness depicted were a direct parallel. In Michihiko Hachiya's "Hiroshima Diary", the author describes the wartime use of a "500-ton bomb" and later, after learning that it was no such thing, refers to the atomic bomb as to the "new weapon" used to destroy the city of Hiroshima. The Doctor's memoirs begin two days after the atomic bomb was dropped, due to his injuries following the event. At the time of the atomic bomb drop, Doctor Hachiya was at home resting after a rough night. at the nearby hospital where he held the position of Director and Attending Doctor. The effects of the bomb brought the Doctor to his knees; then, looking out the window, he was taken aback by a strong light that quickly turned into a dark, eerie haze. These consequences, as seen in his garden, quickly spread within his home, which was also severely damaged by the Earthquake. Within moments the doctor became a victim of this tragic event, exactly the opposite of his normal role as a healer. He goes from the calming doctor to the bleeding patient panicking about what could have happened to his beloved wife. Moments after his frightening call, Doctor Hachiya spots his wife whose only ability is to gesture at him. Together they look for a way out of the shaking house before it collapses. Once on the street, Dr. Hachiya is overcome by weakness and is unable to continue; he tells his wife to go ahead and try to get help.