In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors

by Doug Stanton

  After the cremation, a memorial service was held in Arlington National Cemetery, complete with a twenty-one-gun salute. His remains were flown to Louisiana, where he’d spent the happiest times of his life.

  If you’d been standing on the beach at Bayou Liberty that winter in 1968, you might have seen a plane pass by overhead; you might have seen the door open and a small box tipped to the wind. The contents went scattering, like a twisting scarf of smoke.

  A man’s bones and skin can be burned away into powder and ash, but what’s left is without form. Courage, duty, and honor have no permanent home.

  What was left of Charles Butler McVay melted on the water and was gone.

  EPILOGUE

  Eternal father strong to save

  whose arm does rule the restless wave …

  Oh hear us when we pray to thee

  for those in peril on the sea.

  —U.S. NAVY HYMN,

  Reverend William Whiting (1825—1878)

  Twenty-eight years after Captain McVay’s death, in response to a 1996 request for a new investigation by the survivors of the USS Indianapolis, the U.S. Navy’s judge advocate general delivered this pronouncement: “The conclusion reached is that Captain McVay’s court-martial was legally sound; no injustice has been done, and remedial action is not warranted.”

  Today, conspiracy theories abound among some survivors as they try to explain why Captain McVay was court-martialed. Some believe Admiral King was seeking revenge for a personal insult allegedly inflicted years earlier by McVay’s father. Still others believe the politically powerful father of one dead crew member successfully lobbied President Truman himself to press ahead with the trial. Ultimately, though, these theories add up to little. The court martial’s effect was the ruin of McVay’s career, and what remains today is the question of whether this was just.

  The answer, explains Captain Bill Toti, a former U.S. Navy submarine commander, is negative. In a careful but biting critique of the navy’s treatment of the captain (published in October 1999 in Proceedings, a Naval Institute publication), Toti points out: “Here was a man who, because of the unique and absolute nature of the responsibility of command, was culpable for the misfortune that befell his ship—the captain’s own statements point to the fact that he understood this truth well.

  “Despite that, there was nothing he could’ve done to prevent that misfortune, and he should never have been prosecuted in the first place. The lesson here is that a decision can be legally correct and still be unjust.”

  In the years since the sinking many of the survivors of the disaster have worked tirelessly to clear their captain’s name. “The Indianapolis was a trim, fighting ship,” says Dr. Haynes, “and I would be proud to serve aboard her once again.” Or, as Bob Brundige, McCoy’s former raftmate, once said before his death in 1994, “We would’ve rode to hell with Captain McVay.”39

  At a September 1999 hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, former marine private Giles McCoy defiantly told the panel of assembled navy admirals, “Captain McVay’s honor has been violated. You’re sitting here telling me Captain McVay hazarded our ship by failing to zigzag? I want to tell you, our ship was hazarded long before Captain McVay [left port].”

  Later, says McCoy, one of the admirals “came up, grabbed my hand, and said, ‘I want to tell you, McCoy, you’re right.’

  “But then he said, ‘Good luck,’ and walked away.

  “I think we won the battle,” admits McCoy, “but we haven’t won the war.”

  On October 12, 2000, that war began drawing to a close when Congress passed a resolution exonerating Rear Admiral Charles Butler McVay III. It also recommended a Unit citation for the final crew of the USS Indianapolis, fifty-five years after they came home from their solitary victory parade in San Diego.40

  The resolution reads:

  “(1) In light of the remission by the Secretary of the Navy of the sentence of the court-martial and the restoration of Captain McVay to active duty by the Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, that the American people should now recognize Captain McVay’s lack of culpability for the tragic loss of the USS Indianapolis and the lives of the men who died as a result of the sinking of that vessel; and

  “(2) in light of the fact that certain exculpatory information was not available to the court-martial board and that Captain McVay’s conviction resulted therefrom, that Captain McVay’s military record should now reflect that he is exonerated for the loss of the USS Indianapolis and so many of her crew.”41

  What the resolution doesn’t do, however, is expunge this conviction from his record. As of this writing, the survivors of the USS Indianapolis are still fighting for and awaiting this action, which would finally set their captain free.

  THE FINAL CREW OF THE USS Indianapolis (CA35)

  * Indicates a survivor

  CREW AND OFFICERS

  ABBOTT, George S., S1

  ACOSTA, Charles M., MM3

  ADAMS, Leo H., S1*

  ADAMS, Pat L., S2

  ADORANTE, Dante W, S2

  AKINES, William R., S2*

  ALBRIGHT, Charles E., Jr., COX

  ALLARD, Vincent J., QM3*

  ALLEN, Paul F., S1

  ALLMARAS, Harold D., F2

  ALTSCHULER, Allan H., S2 RDM*

  ALVEY, Edward W., Jr., AerM2

  AMICK, Homer I., S2

  ANDERSEN, Lawrence J., SK2

  ANDERSON, Erick T., S2*

  ANDERSON, Leonard O., MM3

  ANDERSON, Richard L., F2

  ANDERSON, Sam G., S2

  ANDERSON, Vincent U., BM1

  ANDREWS, William R., S2*

  ANNIS, James B., Jr., CEMA

  ANTHONY, Harold R., PHM3

  ANTONIE, Charles J., F2

  ANUNTI, John M., M2*

  ARMENTA, Lorenzo, SC2

  ARMISTEAD, John H., S2*

  ARNOLD, Carl Lloyd., AMM3

  ASHFORD, Chester W., WT2

  ASHFORD, John T., Jr., RT3*

  ATKINSON, J.P., COX

  AULL, Joseph Harry, S2

  AULT, William F., S2*

  AYOTTE, Lester J., S2 RDM

  BACKUS, Thomas H., LT (jg)

  BAKER, Daniel Albert, S2

  BAKER, Frederick H., S2 RDM

  BAKER, William M., Jr., EM1

  BALDRIDGE, Clovis R., EM3*

  BALL, Emmet Edwin, S2

  BALLARD, Courtney J., SSM3

  BARENTHIN, Leonard W. S1 FC

  BARKER, Robert C., Jr., RT1

  BARKSDALE, Thomas L., FC3

  BARNES, Paul C., F2

  BARNES, Willard M., MMI

  BARRA, Raymond James, CGMA

  BARRETT, James B., S2

  BARRY, Charles., LT (jg)

  BARTO, Lloyd Peter, S1*

  BARTON, George S., Y3

  BATEMAN, Bernard B., F2 WT*

  BATENHORST, Wilfred J., MM3

  BATSON, Eugene C., S2 RDM

  BATTEN, Robert Edmon, S1 GM

  BATTS, Edward Daniel, STM1

  BEANE, James Albert, F2*

  BEATY, Donald Lee, S1*

  BECKER, Myron Melvin, WT2

  BEDDINGTON, Charles E., S1

  BEDSTED, Leo A. K., FIMoMM

  BEISTER, Richard J., WT3

  BELCHER, James R., S1 RM*

  BELL, Maurice Glenn, S1*

  BENNETT, Dean R., HA1

  BENNETT, Ernest F., B3

  BENNETT, Toney Wade, ST3

  BENNING, Harry., S1

  BENTON, Clarence U., CFCP*

  BERNACIL, Concepcion P. FC3*

  BERRY, Joseph, Jr., STM1

  BERRY, William Henry, ST3

  BEUKEMA, Kenneth Jay, S2

  BEUSCHLEIN, Joseph C., S2

  BIDDISON, Charles L., S1

  BILLINGS, Robert B., ENS

  BILLINGSLEY, Robert F., GM3

  BILZ, Robert Eugene, S2

  BISHOP, Arthur, Jr., S2

  BITONTI, Louis P., S1*

  BLACK
WELL, Fermon M., SSML3

  BLANTHORN, Bryan, S1*

  BLUM, Donald J., ENS*

  BOEGE, Raynard R., S2

  BOGAN, Jack R., RM1

  BOLLINGER, Richard H., S1

  BOOTH, Sherman C., S1 GM*

  BORTON, Herbert E., SCB2

  BOSS, Norbert George, S2

  BOTT, Wilbur Melvin, S2

  BOWLES, Eldridge W., S1

  BOWMAN, Charles E., CTC

  BOYD, Troy Howard, GM3

  BRADLEY, William H., S2

  BRAKE, John Jr., S2

  BRANDT, Russell Lee, F2*

  BRAUN, Neal F., S2

  BRAY, Harold J., Jr., S2*

  BRICE, R. V., S2

  BRIDGE, Wayne Aron, S2

  BRIGHT, Chester Lee, S2

  BRILEY, Harold V., MAM3

  BROOKS, Ulysess Ray, CWTA

  BROPHY, Thomas D’Arcy Jr., ENS

  BROWN, Edward A., WT3

  BROWN, Edward J., S1*

  BRUCE, Russell W., S2

  BRULE, Maurice J., S2

  BRUNDIGE, Robert H., S1 GM*

  BRUNEAU, Charles A., GM3

  BUCKETT, Victor R., Y2*

  BUDISH, David, S2

  BULLARD, John K., S1*

  BUNAI, Robert P., SM1*

  BUNN, Horace G., S2

  BURDORF, Wilbert J., COX*

  BURKHARTSMEIER, Anton T., S1

  BURKHOLTZ, Frank, Jr., EM3

  BURLESON, Martin L., S1

  BURRS, John W., S1

  BURT, William George A., QM3

  BURTON, Curtis H., S1*

  BUSHONG, John R., GM3

  CADWALLADER, John J., RT3

  CAIN, Alfred Brown, RT3

  CAIRO, William G., BUG1

  CALL, James Edward, RM3

  CAMERON, John Watson, GM2

  CAMP, Garrison, STM2

  CAMPANA, Paul, RDM3

  CAMPBELL, Hamer E., Jr., GM3*

  CAMPBELL, Louis Dean, AOM3*

  CAMPBELL, Wayland D., SF3

  CANDALINO, Paul L., LT (jg)

  CANTRELL, Billy G., F2

  CARNELL, Lois Wayne, S2

  CARPENTER, Willard A., SM3

  CARR, Harry Leroy, S2

  CARROLL, Gregory K., S1 FCO

  CARROLL, Rachel W., COX

  CARSON, Clifford, F1 WT

  CARSTENSEN, Richard, S2

  CARTER, Grover C., S1*

  CARTER, Lindsey L., S2*

  CARTER, Lloyd George, COX*

  CARVER, Grover C., S1*

  CASSIDY, John Curran, S1*

  CASTALDO, Patrick P., GM2

  CASTIAUX, Ray V., S2

  CASTO, William H., S1

  CAVIL, Robert Ralph, MM2

  CAVITT, Clinton C., WT3

  CELAYA, Adolfo Valdo, F2*

  CENTAZZO, Frank J., SM3*

  CHAMNESS, John Desel, S2*

  CHANDLER, Lloyd N., S2

  CHART, Joseph, EM3

  CHRISTIAN, Lewis E. Jr., WO

  CLARK, Eugene, CK3

  CLARK, Orsen N., S2*

  CLEMENTS, Harold P., S2

  CLINTON, George W., S1*

  CLINTON, Leland J., LT (jg)

  COBB, William Lester, MOMM3

  COLE, Walter Henry, CRMA

  COLEMAN, Cedric F., LCDR

  COLEMAN, Robert E., F2*

  COLLIER, Charles R., RM2*

  COLLINS, James, STM1

  COLVIN, Frankie Lee, SSMT2

  CONDON, Barna T., RDM1

  CONNELLY, David F., ENS

  CONRAD, James P., EM3

  CONSER, Donald L., SC2

  CONSIGLIO, Joseph W., FC2

  CONWAY, Thomas M., Rev., LT

  COOK, Floyd E., SF3

  COOPER, Dale, Jr., F2

  COPELAND, Willard J., S2

  COSTNER, Homer J., COX*

  COUNTRYMAN, Robert E., S2

  COWEN, Donald R., FC3*

  COX, Alford E., GM3

  COX, Loel Dene, S2*

  CRABB, Donald C., RM2

  CRANE, Granville S., Jr., MM2*

  CREWS, Hugh C., LT (jg)

  CRITES, Orval D., WT1

  CROUCH, Edwin M., CAPT.

  (Passenger)

  CRUM, Charles J., S2

  CRUZ, Jose S., CCKA

  CURTIS, Erwin E., CTCP

  DAGENBART, Charles R., Jr.,

  PHM2

  DALE, Elwood Richard, F1

  DANIEL, Harold W., CBMA*

  DANIELLO, Anthony G., S1 SM

  DAVIS, James Clark, RM3

  DAVIS, Kenneth G., F1 EM

  DAVIS, Stanley G., LT (jg)

  DAVIS, Thomas Edward, SM2

  DAY, Richard R., Jr., S2

  DEAN, John Thomas, Jr., S2

  DEBERNARDI, Louie, BM1*

  DEFOOR, Walton, RDM3

  DeMARS, Edgar Joseph, CBMA

  DeMENT, Dayle P., S1

  DENNEY, Lloyd, Jr., S2

  DEWING, Ralph Otto, FC3*

  DIMOND, John Nelson, S2

  DIZELSKE, William B., MM2*

  DOLLINS, Paul, RM2

  DONALD, Lyle Herbert, EM1

  DONEY, William Junior, F2

  DONNER, Clarence W., RT2*

  DORMAN, William B., S1

  DORNETTO, Frank Paul, WT 1

  DOSS, James Monroe, S2

  DOUCETTE, Roland O., S2

  DOUGLAS, Gene Dale, F2*

  DOVE, Bessil Raymond, SKD2

  DOWDY, Lowell S., CWO

  DRANE, James Anthony, GM3

  DRAYTON, William H., EM2*

  DRISCOLL, David L., LT (jg)

  DRONET, Joseph E.J., S2*

  DRUMMOND, James J., F2

  DRURY, Richard E., S2

  DRYDEN, William H., MM1*

  DUFRAINE, Delbert E., S1

  DUNBAR, Jess Lee, F2

  DURAND, Ralph J., Jr., S2

  DYCUS, Donald, S2

  EAKINS, Morris B., F2 WT

  EAMES, Paul H., Jr., ENS

  EASTMAN, Chester S., S2

  ECK, Harold Adam, S2*

  EDDINGER, John W, S1

  EDDY, Richard Leroy, RM3

  EDWARDS, Alwyn C., F2

  EDWARDS, Roland J., BM1

  EGOLF, Harold Wesley, S2 RDM

  ELLIOTT, Harry W., S2

  ELLIOTT, Kenneth A., S1

  EMERY, William F., S1 QM

  EMSLEY, William J., S1

  ENGELSMAN, Ralph, S2

  EPPERSON, Ewell, S1

  EPPERSON, George L., S1

  ERICKSON, Theodore M., S2*

  ERNST, Robert Carl, F2

  ERWIN, Louis H., COX*

  ETHIER, Eugene Edwin, EM3*

  EUBANKS, James H., S1

  EVANS, Arthur Jerome, PHM2

  EVANS, Claudus, GM3*

  EVERETT, Charles N., EM2

  EVERS, Lawrence Lee, CMMA

  EYET, Donald Archie, S1

  FANTASIA, Frank A., F2 WT

  FARBER, Sheldon Lee, S2 RDM

  FARLEY, James W, S1

  FARMER, Archie C., COX*

  FARRIS, Eugene F., S1 RM*

  FASTHORSE, Vincent, S2

  FEAKES, Fred A., AOM1*

  FEDORSKI, Nicholas W., S1*

  FEENEY, Paul Ross, S2 RM

  FELTS, Donald J., BM1*

  FERGUSON, Albert E., CMMA*

  FERGUSON, Russel M., RT3

  FIGGINS, Harley Dean, WT2

  FIRESTONE, Kenneth F., FC2

  FIRMIN, John Alden H., S2

  FITTING, Johnny W., GM1*

  FLATEN, Harold James, WT2*

  FLEISCHAUER, Donald W., S1 Y

  FLESHMAN, Vern L., S2

  FLYNN, James M., Jr., S1 FCO

  FLYNN, Joseph A., CDR

  FOELL, Cecil D., ENS

  FORTIN, Verlin L., WT3*

  FOSTER, Verne E., F2*

  FOX, William H., Jr., F2*

  FRANCOIS, Norbert E., F1 MM*

  FRANK, Rudolph A., S2

  FRANKLIN, Jack R., RDM3

  FREEZE, Howard B., LT (jg)

  FRE
NCH, Douglas O., FC3

  FRENCH, Jimmy Junior, QM3

  FRITZ, Leonard A., MM3

  FRONTINO, Vincent F., MOMM

  FRORATH, Donald H., S2

  FUCHS, Herman F., CWO

  FULLER, Arnold A., F2

  FULTON, William C, CRMA

  FUNKHOUSER, Robert M., ART2*

  GABRILLO, Juan, S2*

  GAITHER, Forest M., FC2

  GALANTE, Angelo, S2*

  GALBRAITH, Norman S., MM2

  GARDNER, Roscoe W., F2*

  GARDNER, Russel T., F2

  GARNER, Glenn R., MM2

  GAUSE, Robert P., QM1*

  GAUSE, Rubin C., Jr., ENS

  GEMZA, Rudolph A., FCO3*

  GEORGE, Gabriel V., MM3*

  GERNGROSS, Frederick J., Jr., ENS

  GETTLEMAN, Robert A., S2

  RDM*

  GIBSON, Buck Warren, GMS*

  GIBSON, Curtis W., S2

  GIBSON, Ganola F., MM3

  GILBERT, Warner, Jr., S1

  GILCREASE, James, S2*

  GILL, Paul Edward, WT2

  GILMORE, Wilbur A., S2

  GISMONDI, Michael V., S1

  GLADD, Millard, Jr., MM2*

  GLAUB, Francis A., GM2

  GLENN, Jay R., AMM3*

  GLOVKA, Erwin Samuel, S2

  GODFREY, Marlo Roy, RM3

  GOECKEL, Ernest S., LT (jg)

  GOFF, Thomas Guy, SF3*

  GOLDEN, Curry, STM1

  GOLDEN, James I., S1

  GONZALES, Ray Adam, S2

  GOOCH, William Leroy, F2*

  GOOD, Robert Kenneth, MM3

  GOODWIN, Oliver A., CRTA

  GORE, Leonard F., S2

  GORECKI, Joseph W., SK3

  GOTTMANN, Paul James, S2

  GOVE, Carroll L., S2

  GRAY, Willis Leroy, S1*

  GREATHOUSE, Bud R., S1

  GREEN, Robert Urban, S2

  GREEN, Tolbert, Jr., S1*

  GREENE, Samuel G., S1

  GREENLEE, Charles I., S2*

  GREER, Bob Eugene, S2

  GREGORY, Garland G., F1

  GRIEF, Matthias D., WT3

  GRIES, Richard C., F2

  GRIEST, Frank David, GM3

  GRIFFIN, Jackie Dale, S1

  GRIFFITH, Robert Lee, S1*

  GRIFFITHS, Leonard S., S2

  GRIGGS, Donald Ray F1

  GRIMES, David Elmer, S2

  GRIMES, James F., S2

  GROCE, Floyd Vernon, RDM2

  GROCH, John Thomas, MM3

  GUENTHER, Morgan E., EM3

  GUERRERO, John Gomez, S1

  GUILLOT, Murphy U., F1 EM

  GUYE, Ralph Lee, Jr., QM3

  GUYON, Harold Lewis, F1 WT

  HABERMAN, Bernard, S2

  HADUCH, John Martin, S1

  HALE, Robert B., LT

  HALE, William F., S2

  HALL, Pressie, F1