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about

Henry Berg
This song tells the story of three cousins in the armed forces during World War II who met on Tinian Island in the Pacific Southwest on August 6, 1945 – the day the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. My dad, Everett Nordstrom, Warren Kallagher and Henry Berg were the cousins. Henry Berg was part of the squadron that dropped the first bomb. Dad related that he and Warren were together at the base on the island that day when a distraught Henry joined them for lunch and told them what had just happened. But, because he was still in shock after witnessing the explosion, as well as for security reasons, he couldn’t say any more. History came alive as my father told the story. This song is offered to commemorate that day – so that we might remember, so that history might better inform the world’s choices today.

lyrics

Henry Berg
Christina Nordstrom, based on a true story as told by Everett Nordstrom

My Dad told a story about World War II,
about Henry Berg and the mission he flew.
Hearing it from his own point of view,
made it all so impossibly true.
As he told it to me, I will tell it to you.

Dad was an ensign, the paymaster who
was stationed near Saipan and part of the crew
of a Navy flotilla to see the war through,
with Berg in the Air Corps and Kallagher, too.
Cousins all three, just about 22.

He said that Berg flew a B-29
as part of a squadron, the top of the line
recognized for their skill and precision in flight;
each one was selected and briefed for the fight.
None of them knew really what was in sight.

After the sortie he rejoined the crew
on Tinian Island and Dad was there, too.
He told them, “We just dropped a bomb on Japan!”
His face, it grew ashen and, with trembling hands,
suffered to think he was part of that plan.

Searching for solace was of no avail.
His comrades were puzzled on hearing the tale.
They questioned him, “Why should it trouble you so?”
What was so different they wanted to know.
All he could say was, “I can’t tell you.”

On that 6th day of August the year ’45,
just one bomb was dropped, not one soul stayed alive.
The mushroom cloud loomed overhead in the sky,
as shock waves and fire consumed every cry!
Never this way again should one life have to die!

credits

from Earth Harmony Sampler, released April 23, 2008
Christina Nordstrom, vocal and guitar
Ric Bailey, guitar
Ted Mello, bass
All words and music written by Christina Nordstrom © 2008

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Christina Nordstrom Boston, Massachusetts

In addition to three solo albums (Songs for the Journey Home, Kids’ Songs, and North Stream) this collection written by Chris Nordstrom includes two projects and a single recorded by Earth Harmony: Field Work (Nordstrom, Ted Mello, Michelle Glidden), Earth Harmony Sampler (Nordstrom, Ted Mello, Ric Bailey), and Rock, Paper, Scissors (Nordstrom, Ric Bailey, Michelle Glidden, Bruce Joy). ... more

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