Synopses & Reviews
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 rescue
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.
Review
"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
Review
"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, author of Nothing Like It in the
World
Review
"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
Review
"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
Review
"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 The Long Gray Line and
Crusade
Synopsis
Stanton pens a harrowing, adrenaline-charged account of America's worst naval disaster and of the heroism of the men who, against all odds, survived. Interweaving stories of men who were there, he relates the events of July 30, 1945, when the USS "Indianapolis" was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. Two 8-page photo inserts. Illustrations.
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
"The worst part...wasn't the sharks, and it wasn't seeing your buddies die...It was when you realize...they've forgotten us. We can't last out here forever-- we're gonna die..."--Giles McCoy, private first-class, USMC, USS
IndianapolisOn the night of July 30, 1945, the Navy cruiser USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese sub, sending 900 men into the black, churning waters of the Pacific. What happened next was a nightmarish battle for survival. Injured, adrift, clinging to each other and their waterlogged life rafts, the men watched in horror as their crewmates fell victim to catastrophic injuries, exposure, hallucinations, and relentless shark attacks. Worst of all, their last radio S.O.S. had been disregarded by the Navy as a possible prank. When help finally arrived an astonishing five days later, only 317 of the ship's crew were still alive. Meticulously researched, including eyewitness reports from USS Indianapolis survivors, In Harm's Way recounts with frightening accuracy those five harrowing days at sea, and gives readers a moving, unforgettable account of the worst naval disaster at sea in U.S. history.
Synopsis
A harrowing, adrenaline-charged 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 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 four days and nights. Battered by a savage sea, they struggled to stay alive, fighting off sharks, hypothermia, and dementia. By the time rescue arrived, all but 317 men had died. The captain's subsequent 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?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 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.
Synopsis
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.
About the Author
A former contributing editor at
Esquire and
Outside,
Doug Stanton is now a contributing editor at
Men's Journal. He received an M.F.A. from the Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa. He lives in northern Michigan. An international bestseller,
In Harm's Way has been translated into German, Japanese, Danish, and Italian, and optioned by Warner Brothers to be made into a major motion picture.
In Harm's Way was a Publishers Weekly Notable Book of the Year, a Barnes and Noble.com Editor's Pick, an Amazon Historical Bestseller, and was chosen by Book magazine as "One of the ten who made it big."
For more information concerning the USS Indianapolis survivors and In Harm's Way, visit: www.ussindianapolisinharmsway.com