60 years ago today - An incredible Naval Tragedy

[BOSSHOG]

The USS Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese Submarine in the Pacific after the cruiser had delivered the key components of the atomic bombs we dropped on Japan. The ship was running top secret, no communication allowed. The ship sank so fast, there was no time for an SOS. A third of the 1,196 manned crew went down with the ship. Half of the rest drowned or burned to death covered in oil exposed to the sun as they drifted for days before being rescued. Many were eaten by sharks. Those who survived (316) were discovered by accident. About 60 remain to this day.

The bombing of Hiroshima made the headlines. The USS Indianapolis story was below the fold on front pages nationwide.

[barb162]

1. I think the captain was exonerated just a few years ago

This was a real horror story

[BOSSHOG]

2. The ship's skipper was exonerated

However, after the crew had been rescued he received hate mail from family members of the other victims. They blamed him for the sinking because he wasn't running a zigzag course (anti-torpedo tactic) during the moonlit night. The war was damned near over and the meeting of the sub and the Carrier was just an ugly coincidence. The Captain wanted to get his weary crew back to the Phillippines for a little RandR as soon as possible and a zigzag tactic would have slowed them down. He committed suicide in 1969. His father was an Admiral.

[Octafish]

3. All hands served so we can be free.

Here's are two resources chronicling this important part of our nation's history:


The Sinking of USS Indianapolis

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq30-1.htm


The Worst Naval Disaster in US History

http://www.ussindianapolis.org/


A harrowing story that shows what free men have done to keep ours a free nation.

Thank you for remembering, Chief.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Thank you for those sources Shipmate

I always turned to the crew of the USS Indianapolis and their story to discuss leadership, good and bad. How bad leadership way up the chain of command can get good Sailors eaten. Just like a Chief neglecting his Sailors could result in one of his Sailors getting eaten by a Shark, whether in another department, on the deckplates or out in town.

Great Books:

Fatal Voyage - Dan Kurzman
Abandon Ship - Richard Newcomb

Thanks again Shipmate and you have a fine Navy weekend.

[sleipnir]

5. Yes, it was a horror. I can't imagine being there.

Yet, it is a testament to the human will to live. I think that to experience that, it would probably be the worst nightmare that you could never wake up from.

[Javaman]

6. Robert Shaw's character in Jaws talks about it...

It was his comment in that film that made me read up on it. It was a truly horrific moment.

Many died in a shark feeding frenzy.

[BOSSHOG]

8. Yes Old Quint was a crewmember

In a ficticious, yet praiseworthy manner. How ironic he survived the sinking of the Indianapolis and then ended up being eaten by a shark.

[Lannes]

7. There was a young man who went on a crusade to clear McVeigh

http://print.google.com/print/doc?articleid=N8iBhufevE4

Article From 1998


An exerpt.As far as I know the film hasnt been made yet..

UNIVERSAL AND PRODUCER Chris Moore ("Good Will Hunting") have emerged victorious in a spirited chase for rights to the life of Hunter Scott, a Florida youth who has D.C. lawmakers ready to overturn a World War II court-martial of Navy captain Charles McVeigh. McVeigh skippered the infamous USS Indianapolis, the ship which delivered the A-bomb to be dropped on Japan.

The ship was sunk on its secret return trip, and crew members spent a horrific five days in the water. Most ended up either drowning or being eaten by sharks. McVeigh was court-martialed and ultimately committed suicide because of the shame he felt.

Scott began asking questions after seeing the famous Robert Shaw scene in "Jaws" that recounted the shark nightmare. He wrote to survivors and uncovered compelling evidence that McVeigh was blameless and that he'd been scapegoated by the Navy. A bill prompted by the youth's campaign to posthumously overturn the court-martial and restore McVeigh's rank is expected to be signed into law.

"We have Hunter's life and his research, which includes a lot of personal correspondence with survivors," said Moore. "What we really have is a way in and a way out of an awful naval disaster, this story of a kid who questioned what he saw as wrong, who, when he got letters from the Navy telling him he was wrong, said 'I don't agree with you' and kept going. That's as uplifting and American as it gets, and it's a great backdrop. I think to do just the story of the Indianapolis loses something, but maybe this will be one of those things that becomes a race."

[NativeTexan]

9. Nearly forgotten

But God continue to bless the lost souls of USS Indianapolis for their bravery and sacrifice!!

[Historic NY]

10. Capt. McVay was so maligned he took his own life.........

"The Navy's failure to note us missing when we were long overdue in port and then making Captain McVay the scapegoat are the real crimes."

Quote from the late Joseph Kiselica, USS Indianapolis survivor, from June 21, 1998 article by Bob Sudyk entitled "Redemption for Sailor Joe" in the Hartford (CN) Courant

<snip>

"For the sake of the families of the 880 men who died, our government should make clear that Captain McVay was not responsible in any way, technically or morally, for the death of their loved ones."

From statement submitted at September 1999 Senate hearing by Richard A. Paroubek, USS Indianapolis survivor

<snip>

http://www.ussindianapolis.org/resolution.htm

http://ehistory.osu.edu/wwii/oral/mcvay/0001.cfm

http://members.tripod.com/IndyMaru/indymaru10c.htm

http://www.wndu.com/news/072001/news_8784.php