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In Harm's Way by Doug Stanton

Product Description:

A harrowing, adrenaline-charged account of America's worst naval disaster -- and of the heroism of the men who, against all odds, survived.

On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. An estimated 300 men were killed upon impact; close to 900 sailors were cast into the Pacific Ocean, where they remained undetected by the navy for nearly four days and nights. Battered by a savage sea, they struggled to stay alive, fighting off sharks, hypothermia, and dementia. By the time rescue arrived, all but 317 men had died. The captain's subsequent court-martial left many questions unanswered: How did the navy fail to realize the Indianapolis was missing? Why was the cruiser traveling unescorted in enemy waters? And perhaps most amazing of all, how did these 317 men manage to survive?Interweaving the stories of three survivors -- the captain, the ship's doctor, and a young marine -- journalist Doug Stanton has brought this astonishing human drama to life in a narrative that is at once immediate and timeless. The definitive account of a little-known chapter in World War II history, In Harm's Way is destined to become a classic tale of war, survival, and extraordinary courage.

Amazon.com:

On July 26, 1945, the heavy cruiser Indianapolis steamed into port at the Pacific island of Tinian, carrying a cargo that would end World War II: the uranium that would be dropped on Hiroshima just three weeks later. Having delivered its load without incident, Indianapolis moved on toward the Philippines to join the great armada moving in on Japan. Though intelligence reports assured Captain Charles McVay that the route from Guam to Leyte was safe, there were Japanese submarines active in the area. On the night of July 29, having detected with sonar the clinking of dishes aboard the Indianapolis from a distance of more than a dozen miles, the submarine I-58 sank the American ship, killing nearly 900 sailors in the explosion and its terrible aftermath.

Captain McVay was quickly court-martialed for having failed to follow evasive maneuvers, "the first captain in the history of the U.S. Navy," Doug Stanton observes, "to be court-martialed subsequent to losing his ship in an act of war." Although the sailors under his command would insist that McVay had been scapegoated, and although I-58's commander testified before the court that "he would have sunk the Indianapolis no matter what course she was on," McVay was never able to clear his name. He committed suicide in 1968.

Stanton captures the drama of these events in his vigorous narrative, which augments and updates Richard Newcomb's Abandon Ship!. Stanton observes that although McVay was exonerated by an act of Congress in 2000, the conviction still stands in Navy records. Stanton's book makes a powerful case for why that conviction should be overturned, and why the captain and crew of the Indianapolis deserve honor. --Gregory McNamee

Summary: This Book Will Make You Angry...And Proud

Rating: 5

In this book, the captain of the USNS Indianapolis is court-martialed for losing his ship in an act of war. In fact it was the Navy brass themselves who should have been convicted of murder. They sent the ship out without escort, they didn't provide the captain with intelligence which might have prevented its torpedoeing. When the ship didn't arrive as scheduled the situation descended into such a comedy (certainly not the left word!) of errors that make you, the reader, want to scream. And, as is usually the case when the brass screws up, they cover their own rear ends and nail somebody who doesn't deserve it. This is a shocking story of institutional irresponsibility, but its also a story of incredible heroism and fortitude. And, finally, justice -- although meager -- is done. You will speed through this book. It is so compelling that you will drop everything else and read it from beginning to end. And when you're finished you'll conclude that the Navy betrayed these brave crewmen in the extreme. And you'll be grateful that even at this late date, they are beginning to get the recognition they deserve.

Summary: Simply amazing.

Rating: 5

This book was simply amazing. I don't need to describe it in detail. Lets just say there were scenes in the book where I cried. I have read hundreds of books on World War 2 and this by far is the deepest. I actually thought I was there with them feeling their thoughts and fearing their fears. This book is a must.

Summary: in harm's way--

Rating: 4

excellent book about an injustice done to a naval officer of wwII. Taken from the survivors' accounts, this book describes the hell that all of these men went through to survive five days at sea. It also tells how they exonerate the captain of the Indianapolis as not being at fault. It is only too bad that the navy only does this after the poor man kills himself from the shame of the original court -marshal! He did his best for his men during that time and should have been given a medal of honor! This account starts with him shooting himself so it can be a bit tough to listen to.

There is quite a bit of language in this book. Just letting you know.

Summary: An avoidable tragedy, a convenient scapegoating.

Rating: 4

You probably already know what the story is about, somewhat (the ship sank and many of the survivors set adrift with no boats suffered the fate of becoming shark food). What many don't know until they pick up the book, like I did, is the whole story of the Indianapolis; a string of mistakes and oversights, that resulted in an unnecessary sinking of a ship, death of hundreds of men and then the scapegoating of the ships captain who was left out to dry by the Navy.

I didn't find this book to be a non-stop page turner, but I did find it to be a lesson in history. Not just military but history in the sense that the military, in this case, or government, or big business, or life for that matter is not fair. In this case, people screwed up, people above the captain of the ship, but the old adage that the captain is fully responsible for whatever happens on or to his ship, ended up being used by cowards in the Navy, military and government to save their butts and string up a man loved by his men.

To some up the book in a few sentences would not do it justice, but it should be read. It is a story of not just abject horror and betrayal, but also of bravery and courage and needs to be read to be understood.

Summary: History we must remember and share

Rating: 4

The story of the Indianapolis has been known only to those who lived through those years of WWII. Since that time our young have not been taught much about America then and I am afraid it has been deliberate due to an education system that shuns being proud of anything American.

The book is informative and educational about those times and our people.

It is an example of our fallability and our strengths. I pray that we can still rise to the need as it was done by others.

Mirrors are welcomed!

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Rating:
2.5 out of 5 by Book123