USS Indianapolis Tragedy Was 70 Years Ago, July 30, 1945-- Part 1

From the July 27, 2015, National Geographic "Warship's Last Survivors Recall Sinking in Shark-Infested Waters" by Glenn Hodges.

"Seventy years ago this week, on July 30, 1945, the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis was sunk by two torpedoes fired by a Japanese submarine in the south Pacific.  So began a five-day ordeal of thirst, hypothermia, salt-water poisoning, hallucination. drowning, and dismemberment in shark-infested waters."

"Out of a crew of 1.196, only 317 men survived.

"For years the story seemed destined to be forgotten.  Until the movie "Jaws" hit theaters in 1975, and Captain Quint's now infamous monologue about the relentless shark attacks thrust the Indianapolis incident into public consciousness, it seemed almost no one knew about it.

"The survivors, of course, found the event impossible to forget.  Since 1960, they've been meeting for reunions in Indianapolis to bond with their shipmates, tell their stories, and commemorate the worst week of their lives."


--GreGen