Using the bomb saved lives by bringing a quick end to a war that might have gone on for years longer. it is impossible to put a number on how many more deaths the continuing war might have caused, but there are indications. millions had already died in the pacific theater. whenever us troops invaded an island, they knew the fight was to the death. in the battle for okinawa alone, there had been almost 50,000 us casualties, while japan had suffered some 90,000 military deaths and at least 100,000 civilian deaths. of course, radiation continued to cause illness, misery, and death long after the bomb had been dropped.