USS Indianapolis sinking: 'You could see sharks circling (68th anniversary )

When USS Indianapolis was hit by Japanese torpedoes in the final weeks of WWII, hundreds of crewmen jumped into the water to escape the burning ship. Surrounded by sharks, they waited for a response to their SOS. But no one had been sent to look for them.

In late July 1945, USS Indianapolis had been on a special secret mission, delivering parts of the first atomic bomb to the Pacific Island of Tinian where American B-29 bombers were based. Its job done, the warship, with 1,197 men on board, was sailing west towards Leyte in the Philippines when it was attacked.

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.

RIP

Japanese submarine slammed two torpedoes into our side, Chief. We was comin' back from the island of Tinian to Leyte... just delivered the bomb. The Hiroshima bomb. Eleven hundred men went into the water. Vessel went down in 12 minutes.

Didn't see the first shark for about a half an hour. Tiger. 13-footer. You know how you know that when you're in the water, Chief? You tell by looking from the dorsal to the tail fin. What we didn't know, was our bomb mission had been so secret, no distress signal had been sent. They didn't even list us overdue for a week. Very first light, Chief, sharks come cruisin', so we formed ourselves into tight groups.

You know, it was kinda like old squares in the battle like you see in the calendar named "The Battle of Waterloo" and the idea was: shark comes to the nearest man, that man he starts poundin' and hollerin' and screamin' and sometimes the shark will go away... but sometimes he wouldn't go away. Sometimes that shark he looks right into ya. Right into your eyes. And, you know, the thing about a shark... he's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be living... until he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then... ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin'. The ocean turns red, and despite all the poundin' and the hollerin', they all come in and they... rip you to pieces.

You know by the end of that first dawn, lost a hundred men. I don't know how many sharks, maybe a thousand. I know how many men, they averaged six an hour.

On Thursday morning, Chief, I bumped into a friend of mine, Herbie Robinson from Cleveland. Baseball player. Boatswain's mate. I thought he was asleep. I reached over to wake him up. He bobbed up, down in the water just like a kinda top. Upended. Well, he'd been bitten in half below the waist. Noon, the fifth day, Mr. Hooper, a Lockheed Ventura saw us. He swung in low and he saw us... he was a young pilot, a lot younger than Mr. Hooper. Anyway, he saw us and he come in low and three hours later a big fat PBY comes down and starts to pick us up. You know that was the time I was most frightened... waitin' for my turn. I'll never put on a lifejacket again.

So, eleven hundred men went in the water; 316 men come out and the sharks took the rest, June the 29th, 1945.

Anyway, we delivered the bomb.

4 posted on 07/30/2013 5:58:44 PM PDT by KC_Lion (Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)

A sad tale.

Haunted by the loss of his ship and crew, Captain Charles McVay committed suicide in 1968.

7 posted on 07/30/2013 6:01:01 PM PDT by KC_Lion (Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)

If you ever want to read an excellent but horrifying book on this go out and purchase “In Harm’s Way” by Doug Stanton.

A cousin of mine went down with the ship. Another cousin missed its final voyage because he was thrown in the brig for being drunk and rowdy just before it sailed. That earned him the nickname “Lucky,” which stayed with him for the rest of his life.

While visiting Indianapolis in early May, I took a city tour on a Segway that takes you past the city’s memorial for the ship and crew. Very well done, IMO - I’d recommend a visit if you’re in town.

13 posted on 07/30/2013 6:20:33 PM PDT by Flick Lives (We're going to be just like the old Soviet Union, but with free cell phones!)

14 posted on 07/30/2013 6:25:40 PM PDT by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto!)

I also recommend “In Harm’s Way” I have it on audio CD and would listen during car trips.

15 posted on 07/30/2013 6:28:20 PM PDT by Finatic (I ran out of change and have given up on hope. FUBO, I am so sick of your sorry a$$ you effin punk)

Every time I catch an “Jaws” replay on the idiot box, I try to watch the “Scars Comparing” scene.

It’s the best part of Jaws, the rest is not as scary but Qiunn’s telling the tale of Indianapolis is still unnerving.

Especially when the erie silence is broken by the distance whale song.....

I read a book describing the ordeal back in the 70’s. It made quite an impression on me.

Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies.
Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain.
For we’ve received orders for to sail back to Boston.
And so never more shall we see you again.

The US Navy brought the skipper of the Japanese sub over to testify against McVey at his court marshall. The sub commander was dumbfounded.

Bureaucrats have always been and always will be the same.

LOl.......somehow I knew this thread couldn’t survive without a pic of Quint and his story.

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