The USS Indianapolis was the secret of the Navy fleet. The Portland-class cruiser became a favorite of FDR with him even undertaking a “crossing of the line” ceremony in 1936 aboard the vessel. But it was what happened in July 1945 that made history. While transiting the Pacific Ocean, the crew of the Indy took on secret cargo they wouldn’t find out more about until after the war – the components for the Little Boy atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima a few weeks later. Their high-speed transit and the Commander’s decision to break protocol drew attention to the ship though, and in the early morning hours of July 30th, a Japanese submarine fired torpedoes and sank the Indianapolis. Only 316 of the 1195 men aboard the ship would eventually be rescued. Out of the Depths is the their story, told from the perspective of Edgar Harrell, a Marine Corps Sargent assigned to the ship. Shark attacks, salt water poisoning, dehydration, and exhaustion contributed to the mental anguish the survivors experienced before their rescue several days after the sinking.
I give Out of the Depths 4 out of 5 stars. This memoir is actually more of a testimony of Harrell’s faith than a memoir. This book speaks to how his faith helped him get through the terrible days after the sinking, but also how it influenced the men in the water with him. I appreciated the inclusion of quotes and memories from other survivors throughout the book. I was also surprised to see the amount of “coverup” and “coincidence” throughout the final sailing and sinking of the Indianapolis. This book is heavy on Bible verses and references though, which could be distracting for some readers.
With references to gruesome injuries and battle deaths, this book may be best directed to audiences over 13. As I mentioned, this book reads more like a testimonial to Harrell’s Christian faith and would be appropriate for military members looking for clarity and direction for their faith. However, if you are looking for a memoir or recounting of the sinking without faith-based conversation, this is not the book for you.
I chose Out of the Depths for the Read With Lindsey Reading Challenge prompt “Memorial Day”. My grandfather fought with the 777th in France and Germany during World War II, and shared stories about his time there with me. I have read extensively about the war, but had not learned about the coincidences around the sinking of the Indianapolis until reading this book. I was amazed to hear what the survivors endured in the water! If you’re looking for other options for Memorial Day, check out our Agenda post from Sunday with a list of other great reads!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: No Other World, Rahul Mehta
- Current audio book: The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Marrying the Ketchups, Jennifer Close
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