Indianapolis had already performed the most important part of its mission: It had successfully carried parts for the Little Boy atomic bomb across the Pacific.
This story is sad for many reasons but especially for the loss of lives and for the mistakes made as you have described Tara. However, I feel compassion for Captain McVay who most likely was not at fault for the sinking of the Indianapolis.
God bless the Indianapolis and its crew. It is a blessing that the ship's main mission had been completed and the war was only days from ending, thanks in great part to the Indianapolis and its crew.
Thank you Tara for a repeat of this very important event during WW2.
It seems odd to me that Captain McVay would not be granted an escort in these hostile waters. Captain McVay can be forgiven his decision to discontinue zig zagging but I would be interested in his superior's decision to refuse an escort and what the status of readiness was in the areas where communications were sent and intelligence was provided. Especially when they knew Japanese submarines operated in those waters. Look forward to the remainder of this piece of history.
Sadly, he was always blamed, even though his surviving men said he wasn't and fought for the record to be corrected. Also, sadly he took his own life probably because of his own feelings of failing those that perished.
Thanks for the information and the book reference. It is a familiar scenario. The troops fight valiantly and superiors prosecute the war poorly. The troops suffer.
Great choice of story. I recently read "In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors" a good book that gives a lot of detail on the story. I highly recommend for those that what to read more, although you will do her usual great job giving us the important details. Sort of the cliff notes version that then triggers history nerds to learn more.
This story is sad for many reasons but especially for the loss of lives and for the mistakes made as you have described Tara. However, I feel compassion for Captain McVay who most likely was not at fault for the sinking of the Indianapolis.
God bless the Indianapolis and its crew. It is a blessing that the ship's main mission had been completed and the war was only days from ending, thanks in great part to the Indianapolis and its crew.
Thank you Tara for a repeat of this very important event during WW2.
It seems odd to me that Captain McVay would not be granted an escort in these hostile waters. Captain McVay can be forgiven his decision to discontinue zig zagging but I would be interested in his superior's decision to refuse an escort and what the status of readiness was in the areas where communications were sent and intelligence was provided. Especially when they knew Japanese submarines operated in those waters. Look forward to the remainder of this piece of history.
Sadly, he was always blamed, even though his surviving men said he wasn't and fought for the record to be corrected. Also, sadly he took his own life probably because of his own feelings of failing those that perished.
Thanks for the information and the book reference. It is a familiar scenario. The troops fight valiantly and superiors prosecute the war poorly. The troops suffer.
Thank God the bomb components were delivered beforehand Betsy Tara Ross!
Great choice of story. I recently read "In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors" a good book that gives a lot of detail on the story. I highly recommend for those that what to read more, although you will do her usual great job giving us the important details. Sort of the cliff notes version that then triggers history nerds to learn more.
It's a great book!
It was horrific
This sure was a tragic event. All the planning for this mission went awry unfortunately.
You did well to divide this harrowing tale of history into two parts.
It’s a big story! Even two parts seems to oversimplify it a bit.
The more, the better! I like your treatment of the story.
Thank you, Tara, for reminding us of one of the greatest tragedies of WWII along with the ending to that war the Indianapolis helped create!
We must never forget!
Thank you, Tara Ross!
A successful mission for the Indianapolis, however many lives were tragically lost in the ocean, even though they had survived the Japanese attack.
Heroes all!!
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Thank you, Tara.
I had not seen this on Facebook last week. Thank you