My Dad was a Navy CPO who had his destroyer shot out from under him at Guadalcanal in '42. Most of the crew got off OK, but the Gregory sank so fast only one raft was deployed, the most serious wounded placed there. They lost half the survivors overnight to sharks.Dad had 3rd degree burns on 40-50% of his body and spent 12 hrs.in the water hanging on to the raft. Yeah, I'm a proud son of a Hero.....dammit, got sumthin' in my eyes.....the idea of these men being spat on by these.....POLITICIANS....is just so....ENRAGING. I so wish this is the flashpoint to bring this Administration to it's knees.....
Thanks for posting. I'd seen "Jaws" once, and didn't remember much about it, but that scene stuck in my head. Probably the way the one guy instantly sobers up at the mention of "USS Indianapolis". So I bought a book and read up on it. "In Harm's Way" by Doug Stanton. That scene makes MUCH more sense now.
I've read a couple of books on the torpedoing of the Indianapolis. The first was when I was in grade school; the idea that guys were actually dragged down by their waterlogged kapok life jackets was horrifying then - and now.
The base of the memorial, on both sides, has the story of the USS Indianapolis. You can see a bit of it in Tam's picture. When I stopped by 3 years ago, there was a Segway Tour listening to the guide talk about it, before rolling off down the river walk.
My friend Jim Belcher is running the survivors' group for them. His dad was a survivor, his mom Japanese. It is a compelling story beyond that of the bomb.
I met one of the survivors at Rockhome Gardens in Arcola, IL. He was promoting a book (Only 317 Survived) with vignettes of the survivors. He'd had the copies he had with him autographed by as many survivors as he could. I believe my copy has about a dozen signatures in it.
I believe I met the same gentleman at Gun show here is Kane County, IL. He was autographing the book that he wrote. I had my, then 6 or 7 year old, son with me and had him inscribe the book to him. I'll have to go dig in my son's room and find it now.
John Milius was an uncredited writer for Jaws, and wrote Quint's monologue about that sinking.
ReplyDeleteWhile its not easy to find, the Indianapolis Memorial is a beautiful tribute to those gallant sailors. Fair winds and following seas...
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was a Navy CPO who had his destroyer shot out from under him at Guadalcanal in '42. Most of the crew got off OK, but the Gregory sank so fast only one raft was deployed, the most serious wounded placed there. They lost half the survivors overnight to sharks.Dad had 3rd degree burns on 40-50% of his body and spent 12 hrs.in the water hanging on to the raft. Yeah, I'm a proud son of a Hero.....dammit, got sumthin' in my eyes.....the idea of these men being spat on by these.....POLITICIANS....is just so....ENRAGING.
ReplyDeleteI so wish this is the flashpoint to bring this Administration to it's knees.....
Thank you for posting this. Now I have a side visit i need to make next Indy 1500.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting. I'd seen "Jaws" once, and didn't remember much about it, but that scene stuck in my head. Probably the way the one guy instantly sobers up at the mention of "USS Indianapolis". So I bought a book and read up on it. "In Harm's Way" by Doug Stanton. That scene makes MUCH more sense now.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nrvMNf-HEg
I've read a couple of books on the torpedoing of the Indianapolis. The first was when I was in grade school; the idea that guys were actually dragged down by their waterlogged kapok life jackets was horrifying then - and now.
ReplyDeleteThe base of the memorial, on both sides, has the story of the USS Indianapolis. You can see a bit of it in Tam's picture. When I stopped by 3 years ago, there was a Segway Tour listening to the guide talk about it, before rolling off down the river walk.
ReplyDeleteMy friend Jim Belcher is running the survivors' group for them. His dad was a survivor, his mom Japanese. It is a compelling story beyond that of the bomb.
ReplyDeleteI met one of the survivors at Rockhome Gardens in Arcola, IL. He was promoting a book (Only 317 Survived) with vignettes of the survivors. He'd had the copies he had with him autographed by as many survivors as he could. I believe my copy has about a dozen signatures in it.
ReplyDeleteI believe I met the same gentleman at Gun show here is Kane County, IL. He was autographing the book that he wrote. I had my, then 6 or 7 year old, son with me and had him inscribe the book to him. I'll have to go dig in my son's room and find it now.
ReplyDelete