A harrowing, adrenaline-charged account of America's worst naval disaster -- and of the heroism of the men who, against all odds, survived.
On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. An estimated 300 men were killed upon impact; close to 900 sailors were cast into the Pacific Ocean, where they remained undetected by the navy for nearly four days and nights. Battered by a savage sea, they struggled to stay alive, fighting off sharks, hypothermia, and dementia. By the time rescue arrived, all but 317 men had died. The captain's subsequent court-martial left many questions unanswered: How did the navy fail to realize the Indianapolis was missing? Why was the cruiser traveling unescorted in enemy waters? And perhaps most amazing of all, how did these 317 men manage to survive?Interweaving the stories of three survivors -- the captain, the ship's doctor, and a young marine -- journalist Doug Stanton has brought this astonishing human drama to life in a narrative that is at once immediate and timeless. The definitive account of a little-known chapter in World War II history, In Harm's Way is destined to become a classic tale of war, survival, and extraordinary courage.
excellent book about an injustice done to a naval officer of wwII. Taken from the survivors' accounts, this book describes the hell that all of these men went through to survive five days at sea. It also tells how they exonerate the captain of the Indianapolis as not being at fault. It is only too bad that the navy only does this after the poor man kills himself from the shame of the original court -marshal! He did his best for his men during that time and should have been given a medal of honor! This account starts with him shooting himself so it can be a bit tough to listen to.
There is quite a bit of language in this book. Just letting you know.