Heavy reading for holidays; USS Indianapolis

RobertN · Jan 3, 2005

Over the holidays, I had time to some reading. Of all the sobering books that I might pick up, I read Doug Stantons "In Harms Way" about the USS Indianapolis disaster.

Oh my goodness! What those poor souls went through between the torpedo of the ship, and five days at sea. Covered in oil, hurt, without many life boats, and in shark waters...

It was amazing how the 317 of 1192 on that ship survived. They figured about 300 were gone instantly in the initial explosions, and about 900 hit the water. Of those 900, only 317 made it, after being left in the water for 5 days.

It was sad that the Navy had info which may have saved the Indy, but did not disclose it. And, SOS messages made it off the ship and were recieved on bases, but were not pursued. It is hard to believe the coverup, and that the Captian got court-marshall, while others in the ranks that knew off subs in the area, and others who ignored the SOS or the fact the Indy was days late of getting to port, got off with little or no penalty.

Although it happened almost 60 years ago now, my heart goes out to all those lost, those found, and the remaining survivors who are still with us. I also thank all those who have, and still do serve this country.

JDgreen227 · Jan 3, 2005

I read the book you refer to about a month ago....it was very sobering reading and one of the few books I retained out of the hundreds I went through last year.

We visited Pearl Harbor and the Arizona memorial just prior to New Year's Eve and during the entire time I was constantly reminded of what I had read about the USS Indianapolis and the horrors the young crew endured. My wife couldn't understand why visiting the site moved me to near tears several times, and I couldn't possibly explain the reason.

"I also thank all those who have, and still do serve this country..."

WELL SAID, BOB !!! GOD BLESS OUR BRAVE MILITARY !!!

virgil · Jan 4, 2005

Do you remember the USS Forrestall. An Aircraft Carrier, Viet Nam.. WOW!

Moon · Jan 4, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Do you remember the USS Forrestall. An Aircraft Carrier, Viet Nam.. WOW! )</font>

I was on the Foreestall when is was a fixture at Norfolk naval base. I was in communcations and we would have to pick up messages from them when they had the comm for us. It was perminetely docked there if my memory serves me right....But I do not know the story behind it. Care to enlighten me?

Thanks,
Moon of Ohio

jinman · Jan 4, 2005

Virgil, the USS Forrestal, CVA-59, and the fires that happened in July 1967 were the reason I tried to avoid duty aboard any "bird farm" when I was in the US Navy. When I joined in 1968, I didn't want anything to do with the aircraft carriers that carried so much jet fuel and ordnance. As long as I was in the navy, I never felt at ease anytime I was on a carrier.

Also, when I was in Philadelphia, I took a part-time job tending bar at the CPO club on the base. I met many Pearl Harbor survivors there since a branch of the survivors met at the club on a regular basis. Those guys made us all realize just how important it is to build water-tight compartments into ships and always be vigilant.

On the west coast, I met a bos'n mate off the USS Indianapolis. The poor guy was an alcoholic and haunted by the memories of watching his shipmates die in the water and/or be eaten by sharks. Watching those horrors all around you and not knowing if you would be next is enough to drive any sane person over the "edge." /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Stories like these made us all very close to our shipmates. At least it did on my ships that all had a total crew of around 325.

Boondox · Jan 4, 2005

Another very powerful read is "Last Stand of the Tincan Sailors," about the squadron of tiny US destroyers who charged the Japanese Imperial Fleet at the onset of the Battle of Leyte Gulf. There was one verbal image that will always stay with me. The first destroyer escort (an even smaller version of a destroyer!) to turn around and attack the line of battleships and heavy cruisers having caused tremendous damage before being mortally stricken by return fire, rolled over and sank. The survivors floating in the water watched in horror as the Japanese admiral's flagship, the biggest battleship of them all, came alongside. The US sailors were certain they were about to be shot in the water, but to their amazement every Japanese sailor on that ship, including the admiral, rendered honors as they passed...a salute to a valiant foe that had delayed them so much, and damaged them so heavily, that the battle was lost!

Pete

RobertN · Jan 4, 2005

I am aware of the fires on the Forrestall; I have read about them and seen the pictures. I was only a couple of years old when it happened. I have friends that were in the area on other ships. As an ex-Fire Fighter, I can only imagine what it was like to try and fight fire while ordnance is exploding. The closest I ever came was at a small candle factory(mom and pop shop). The fire was already breaching the roof. We were first on scene, and I was assigned to pull the initial hose lay. I came from around the front of the engine just as a propane tank did a BLEVE. They had some 20 gallon propane tanks in the that they used with burners to melt wax. It shot blue flames through the roof. A few others went shortly.

It is very hard to fight fire when ordnance blows, and the shrapnel pierces the hoselay.

shvl73 · Jan 4, 2005

Was the Forrestall the ship John McCain was on?

shvl73 · Jan 4, 2005

I did a quick search and found this interesting, http://www.forrestal.org/fidfacts/page18.htm
It describes the landing of a C-130 Hercules on the Forrestal.