In Harm's Way: The Sinking Of The U.S.S. Indianapolis And The Extraordinary Story Of Its Survivors

Plot

Now available for the first time in trade paperback, the bestselling 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 three hundred men were killed upon impact; close to nine hundred sailors were cast into the Pacific Ocean, where they struggled to stay alive, battered by a savage sea and fighting off sharks, hypothermia, and dementia. By the time help arrived--nearly four days and nights later--all but 317 men had died. How did the navy fail to realize the "Indianapolis "was missing? Why was the cruiser traveling unescorted in enemy waters? And 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 this harrowing chapter of World War II history--already a bestseller in its hardcover and mass market editions--"In Harm's Way" is a classic tale of war, survival, and extraordinary courage. Doug Stanton, a former contributing editor at "Esquire," "Outside" and "Men's Journal," received an M.F.A. from the Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa. He lives in northern Virginia. On July 30, 1945, after completing a top secret mission to deliver parts of the atom bomb "Little Boy," which would be dropped on Hiroshima, the battle cruiser 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 five days. Battered by a savage sea, they struggled to survive, fighting off hypothermia, sharks, physical and mental exhaustion, and, finally, hallucinatory dementia. By the time rescuers--which was purely accidental--arrived, all but 321 men had lost their lives; 4 more would die in military hospitals shortly thereafter. The captain's subsequent and highly unusual 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? Drawing on new material and extensive interviews with survivors, "In Harm's Way" relates the tragedy of the USS "Indianapolis" not as a history of war, but as a portrait of men battling the sea. Interweaving the stories of three survivors--Charles Butler McVay, the captain; Lewis Haynes, the ship's doctor; and Private Giles McCoy, 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. "A thoroughly researched, powerfully written account of a nightmare at sea, one of the most poignant tragedies and injustices of World War II. I was struck throughout by the extraordinary heroism of the marines and sailors who survived, all the more remarkable because they do not see it in themselves."--Mark Bowden, author of "Black Hawk Down" "A haunting story of valor, iniquity, and young men in peril on the sea. Once the" Indianapolis "steams into the crosshairs of the Japanese submarine "I-58," "In Harm's Way" is impossible to put down. Doug Stanton's account of the "Indy"'s sinking and the harrowing aftermath is as infuriating, mesmerizing, and heartbreaking as any tale yet told of the great war in the Pacific."--Rick Atkinson, author of "An Army at Dawn" "Stanton has added pathos to an otherwise tragic historical footnote"--"The Roanoke Times " "[A] heart-racing, exhaustively researched book."--"Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" ""In Harm's Way" is a stunning book. The story of the USS" Indianapolis" is one of the most harrowing tales of World War II--and Doug Stanton takes you through every terrifying moment in a vivid and utterly memorable account."--Tom Brokaw, author of "The Greatest Generation " "Stanton's "In Harm's Way" is beautifully written. His sharp eye for detail makes the story all the more heartbreaking."--"The Baltimore Sun " "For millions of people everywhere, World War II had moments, hours, days of horror and terror. For Captain Charles McVay and his crew, their five days in the ocean were gruesome and terrible almost beyond description. But through painstaking research and a brilliant use of oral history, Doug Stanton has told the tale. He writes carefully and judiciously, with a sense of timing and an eye for the right detail, to make this the most frightening book I've ever read."--Stephen E. Ambrose ""In Harm's Way" is a pungent corrective to Navy injustice and much more. The book is an improbably fatal adventure story, unfortunately true, that leaves you gasping at the sacrifice some men made for the rest of us."--Jim Harrison "Harrowing and fact-filled . . . Stanton weaves a riveting tale that captures the human toll of the disaster as well as the political fallout. Writing in a straightforward and exact journalistic style, Stanton deftly tells the stories of three survivors."--"The Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer " "Doug Stanton has done this country a service by bringing the incredible yet almost-forgotten story of the USS "Indianapolis" to heart-pounding life. Do yourself a favor. Read "In Harm's Way.""--James Bradley, author of "Flags of Our Fathers " "Perhaps Stanton's vivid account of the ordeal of the "Indianapolis" will compel the Navy to examine the matter again, since the book seems likely to find many readers and stir strong emotions."--"The Washington Post " "A strong, well-made account of one of the most fearful disasters of World War II--tragic not only in its huge loss of life and its fateful destruction of the career of the Indianapolis' commander, but for its random and almost meaningless occurrence in the last days of the war."--Peter Matthiessen "Stanton has written an enthralling, testifying and moving tale of the sea. Filled with human poignancy as well as revealing historical facts, "In Harm's Way" is a heartfelt tribute to [Captain] McVay and the courageous crew of the Indianapolis"--"Houston Chronicle " "Vividly re-creates this catastrophic chapter in military history. Weaving together accounts from official records and interviews with survivors, [Stanton] has created a war story that is part Titanic, part Stephen King nightmare. Stanton has a sharp eye for the story's awful ironies and telling details."--"Star-Tribune " (Minneapolis) "If "In Harm's Way" is the next step in the path blazed by "Into Thin Air" and "The Perfect Storm," it's also Stanton's way of paying something back. And by uncovering the meaning behind the suffering of the men of the "fs20Indianapolis," he also defines a generation."--"Book" magazine "Doug Stanton has rendered a public service by providing the first complete account of the tragedy of "Indianapolis" . .