How a 6th-grade history project exonerated the captain who was blamed for one of the Navy's worst WWII disasters

Sanders · 08-22-2019, 11:20 AM

Quote:

In 1945, the USS Indianapolis completed its top secret mission of delivering atomic bomb components to Tinian Island in the Pacific Theater of World War II. The heavy cruiser was sunk on its way to join a task force near Okinawa.

Of the ship's 1195 crew members, only 316 survived the sinking and the subsequent time adrift at sea in the middle of nowhere. Among the survivors was the captain of the Indianapolis, Charles B. McVay III.

McVay would be charged with negligence in the loss of the ship. Even though he was restored to active duty after his court-martial and retired a rear admiral, the guilt of the loss haunted him for the rest of his life. He committed suicide with his Navy revolver on his own front lawn with a toy sailor in his hand.

McVay did everything he could in the wake of the torpedoing of the Indianapolis. He sounded the alarm, giving the order to abandon ship and was one of the last men off. Many of the survivors of the sinking publicly stated he was not to blame for its loss. But this wasn't enough for the family members of the ship's crew, who hounded McVay year after year, blaming him for the loss of their sons.

https://www.businessinsider.com/a-6t...napolis-2019-8

Wraith · 08-23-2019, 12:38 AM

I can’t imagine the nightmares the 316 survivors had in the following years.

500grains · 08-23-2019, 08:06 AM

The article does not say what document exonerated the captain or why.

Sanders · 08-23-2019, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 500grains

The article does not say what document exonerated the captain or why.

I read it three times, looking for it, too. But the story was good.

Angry White Trash · 08-28-2019, 02:46 PM

Getting slaughtered by sharks for 3 1/2 days would give a guy nightmares forever. God bless the dead and survivors and especially the captain. War is hell. He did his job to the best of his ability but still wound up losing his ship and 2/3 of the entire crew. That must have weighed heavy on his mind the moment he pulled the trigger on himself.

A sad story for sure.

Solid Snake · 08-28-2019, 06:07 PM

I've read that the death-by-shark numbers are a bit high, that most died from exposure. Still, not a fun way to go.

MrKalashnikov · 08-28-2019, 06:14 PM

I can't imagine a more hideous way to die than being eaten alive by a large predator, except maybe burning to death.

ColonelKorn · 08-29-2019, 05:14 AM

Too late to help Captain McVay, but maybe someone in his family will find small comfort.

Uncle Lyle · 09-08-2019, 12:01 AM

Christ, even the Japanese captain of the submarine that sank the Indianapolis was asked to testify. He flat-out said it didn't matter if McVay was traveling in a straight line or zig zag. The Jap had the Indianapolis dead to rights.

08-23-2019, 08:06 AM	#3
500grains Soldier of Allah Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Crackerland Posts: 31,662	The article does not say what document exonerated the captain or why. __________________ Racism will keep you alive.

08-29-2019, 05:14 AM	#8
ColonelKorn High Priest of Honkydom Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Cheetahstan Posts: 9,542	Too late to help Captain McVay, but maybe someone in his family will find small comfort. __________________ I am an enraged asswipe

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08-23-2019, 12:38 AM	#2
Wraith Soul Collector Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: MN Posts: 2,048	I can’t imagine the nightmares the 316 survivors had in the following years.

08-28-2019, 02:46 PM	#5
Angry White Trash slug Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ice Station Zebra Posts: 15,400	Getting slaughtered by sharks for 3 1/2 days would give a guy nightmares forever. God bless the dead and survivors and especially the captain. War is hell. He did his job to the best of his ability but still wound up losing his ship and 2/3 of the entire crew. That must have weighed heavy on his mind the moment he pulled the trigger on himself. A sad story for sure.

08-28-2019, 06:07 PM	#6
Solid Snake Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 2,517	I've read that the death-by-shark numbers are a bit high, that most died from exposure. Still, not a fun way to go.

08-28-2019, 06:14 PM	#7
MrKalashnikov Deplorable Join Date: May 2008 Location: Behind The Iron Curtain Posts: 8,053	I can't imagine a more hideous way to die than being eaten alive by a large predator, except maybe burning to death.

09-08-2019, 12:01 AM	#9
Uncle Lyle Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 12	Christ, even the Japanese captain of the submarine that sank the Indianapolis was asked to testify. He flat-out said it didn't matter if McVay was traveling in a straight line or zig zag. The Jap had the Indianapolis dead to rights.