The USS Indianapolis

[Stand By]

Just read this article on the ill-fated USS Indianapolis - and I see that the tale is to be committed to film in two up-coming movies …
A terrible tragedy - and the cover-up for so long just adds insult to injury. At least the truth is out at last. It's really something that it took a kid in school to get that truth out and he spoke to congress about what he'd learned from his project and speaking to survivors. Bravo to him. Who says we can't make change?

http://www.express.co.uk/news/history/594535/Tragedy-of-the-USS-Indianapolis

 

[BuzzTheTower]

Such a profound event during WWII. A good friend does presentations of their story, all across the country, and she is very close with all the survivors (her name is Kim Roller). She has a superb Facebook page, and you can see some recent photos from last week, where she was one of the MCs of the event. National Geographic is also doing some work on their story.

I was able to meet George Horvath, through one of her events last year (along with a second meeting of Doolittle Raider Ed Saylor, just before both passed away). It's quite fascinating to talk with someone who was on that ship, saw the box on the back, and survived a horrendous time in the water.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/USS-Indianapolis-Presentation-with-Survivors/159733870757085?fref=ts

The survivors were treated right by Hunter Scott - he did well!

The story of the Navy pilot who disobeyed orders to pick up survivors could be made into a movie. I sure hope that there's a movie about this story. It's far too important, and so many don't know about it.

John

 

[Otter]

Sad story, I read a book about this a few years back. The search didn't happen rapidly due to a negative reporting system when transferring between commands. If no one heard anything to the contrary, everyone assumed it was all OK.

Even the sub skipper said it would have made no difference had she been zig zagging.

 

[AmateisGal]

Horrendous event. I read a book written by one of the men who survived it: Out of the Depths: An Unforgettable WWII Story of Survival, Courage, and the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis by Edgar Harrell.

Reviewed it here if anyone is interested: http://bestofww2.blogspot.com/2014/11/review-out-of-depths-by-edgar-harrell.html

 

[Doctor Strange]

Quint's monologue recounting how he survived the Indianapolis is the finest moment in Jaws. That is, Robert Shaw's spellbinding performance in that scene is the best acting in the film, at least.

 

[Big J]

That is an amazing story.

 

[newsman]

Horrendous event. I read a book written by one of the men who survived it: Out of the Depths: An Unforgettable WWII Story of Survival, Courage, and the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis by Edgar Harrell.

Reviewed it here if anyone is interested: http://bestofww2.blogspot.com/2014/11/review-out-of-depths-by-edgar-harrell.html

I was at our local veterans service department a few years ago...the guy who ran that department for the county knows my interest in history...and he told me I missed meeting an Indianapolis survivor by about 10 minutes.

Anyway. This is a great book.

 

[Treetopflyer]

In 1991 they made a movie about the Indianapolis called "Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis" it starred Stacy Keach. It was filmed aboard the USS Alabama in Mobile.

 

[Big J]

Quint's monologue recounting how he survived the Indianapolis is the finest moment in Jaws. That is, Robert Shaw's spellbinding performance in that scene is the best acting in the film, at least.

I honestly think that that scene alone has done more to preserve the memory of the Indianapolis than all the history books and documentaries that have been made about it.

 

[Stearmen]

I honestly think that that scene alone has done more to preserve the memory of the Indianapolis than all the history books and documentaries that have been made about it.

I agree!