ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Helen G. James

Helen G. James was a woman who worked as a stenographer during World War II. Stenographers are people who write down what other people say, usually in a business or legal setting. During the war, Helen worked for the US government and she had a very important job.

One day, she was working on a top-secret document about a new weapon that the United States was developing called the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb was a very powerful bomb that could destroy entire cities. Helen noticed that the document didn't have a date or a signature, which meant that it could have been written by anyone.

Helen was very worried that the document might fall into the wrong hands and that the atomic bomb might be used for the wrong reasons. She decided to do something very brave and she secretly took the document and hid it in her purse. She then took it home with her and kept it safe for many years.

Later on, after the war was over, Helen realized that the document was very important and needed to be shared with others. She brought it to the attention of the US government and it was finally declassified (made public). Thanks to Helen's bravery and quick thinking, the world was able to learn more about the atomic bomb and its impact on society.

Helen G. James may seem like just an ordinary woman, but her actions had a big impact on history. She showed us that even one person can make a difference and that sometimes it takes bravery to do the right thing.