USS Indianapolis Heroes

I've always had a fascination about the saga of the USS Indianapolis, an American heavy cruiser that was torpedoed in the waning days of WWII. This story has captivated me since the first time I heard about the sailors that survived five agonizing days afloat in the vast Pacific Ocean, hundreds succumbing to dehydration, sharks, and wounds.

Doug Stanton wrote an phenomenal 2001 book, In Harm's Way (St. Martin Press). Stanton told the entire story, updated to include the latest US government declassified information. This is required reading of any WWII scholar or enthusiast.

The Indy was commissioned in 1933. She had been upgraded, but was still considered an older ship for that era. She also was a favorite of the Adm. Ray Spruance, who chose Indy as his flag ship. In July 1945, Indy departed from San Fransisco on top secret mission. Onboard were 1,200 officers and men, including a 39-man Marine detachment. There were two special cargo packages loaded as well. While the crew never knew the contents, history tells us that they were key component for the two atomic bombs that would be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and ultimately bring the war to an end.

After completing delivery of this cargo, Captain Charles Butler McVay, the ship's commanding officer, was ordered to Leyte for training and ultimately to join the invasion force heading for mainland Japan. While cruising toward Leyte, the Indy was torpedoed twice by a Japanese submarine. Twelve minutes later, the Indy was on the ocean floor and over 900 of her crew were bobbing and floating--most only in life jackets--in the oil-covered Pacific Ocean.

The survivors, including McVay, were able to abandon ship, although most simply jumped or were thrown overboard. A few lifeboats were loaded, but the majority of the survivors entered the water in a life vest. They floated, without food or drinking water, for the next five days. Several of the life boats had meager rations of food, but the drinking water canisters were contaminated and undrinkable.

Two-thirds of the survivors died over the next five days

Returning from a routine patrol, an US Army pilot noticed something in the water. Upon closer examination he saw the men floating, many unconscious...many dead. The Navy launched the largest rescue in US Navy history and successfully recovered 321 survivors from the sea. Nearly 60 men perished after they abandoned ship. Only nine Marines survived.

The Navy was quick to place blame on McVay's shoulders. He is the only commanding officer to ever face court martial for losing his ship in wartime. Navy prosecutors even drew universal condemnation of Congress and the American public when they called Commander Hashimoto, the Japanese submarine commander, to testify against the American commander in court. McVay was found guilty in December 1945.

Over the next 50 years, survivors and others have tried to clear the record of Captain McVay. That was not in time to save his life: he committed suicide in 1968. After his death, McVay's relatives found dozens of letters from suffering parents condemning him for the loss of their son.

An elementary school student, Hunter Scott, caused national attention to be focused on the Indianapolis plight, and Captain McVay's court martial, after he presented an extensive school project that included interviews with Indy survivors. In 2001, Navy Secretary Gordon England finally ordered McVay's record to be expunged.

Richard Newcomb's 1958 best seller Abandon Ship was the first to tell the the Indy story. Stanton's book builds on Newcomb's work, plus his own extensive research and interviews with survivors. These are stories of American history--of impossible human survival--that every one must read. These American heroes represent the finest of a generation past.

As of May 2021, there are only five survivors remaining. For more information, visit the USS Indianapolis Survivors Organization.