USS Indianapolis Survivor Relives Horrifying Experience | Memoirs Of WWII #38

 00:00:00 - 00:20:00In the YouTube video "USS Indianapolis Survivor Relives Horrifying Experience | Memoirs Of WWII #38," Edgar Harrell shares his experiences on the USS Indianapolis during World War II. He joined the Marines at 18 and served on the heavy cruiser, participating in battles at Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and the sea battle of the Philippine Seas. After repairs from a suicide plane attack at Okinawa, the Indianapolis received a secret mission to deliver a component of the Little Boy atomic bomb. Harrell was given guard duty when the scientists from Los Alamos came aboard. The ship was attacked and sunk by a Japanese submarine on July 29, 1945, and Harrell survived the sinking, witnessing the bow go under and boys jumping off to avoid the propellers. In the following days, he and his companions faced shark-infested waters, hallucinations, and dehydration. They found potatoes that provided sustenance, but not all survived. Harrell eventually married and spent the rest of his life sharing his story to honor those who did not survive. He remained grateful for his survival and expressed his gratitude to God throughout his life.See more00:00:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "USS Indianapolis Survivor Relives Horrifying Experience | Memoirs Of WWII #38," Edgar Harrell recounts his experience joining the Marines at the age of 18 and being assigned to the USS Indianapolis. The Indianapolis was a heavy cruiser of the United States Navy, and Harrell went through several battles in the Pacific theater, including Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and the sea battle of the Philippine Seas. He also experienced a suicide plane attack at Okinawa, which required the ship to return to the United States for repairs. After successful repairs, the Indianapolis received orders for a secret mission. Harrell, who was a corporal at the time, was given guard duty when two men, who were later revealed to be scientists from Los Alamos, New Mexico, came aboard with a top-secret cargo. The cargo turned out to be a component of the Little Boy atomic bomb, which was about to be detonated, changing the course of the war and Harrell's life forever.00:05:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "USS Indianapolis Survivor Relives Horrifying Experience | Memoirs Of WWII #38," a survivor recounts his experience on the USS Indianapolis during its sinking by a Japanese submarine. After delivering its cargo, the ship was heading to the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan when it was attacked around midnight on July 29, 1945. The survivor, who was off watch at the time, was asleep on the deck near number one turret when he was awakened by the sight of a Japanese periscope. The submarine fired six torpedoes, and the survivor witnessed the first two hits that caused significant damage to the ship. As the bow of the ship began to sink, the survivor heard pleas for help from those trapped inside, but there was nothing he could do. The captain ordered an abandon ship, and the survivor held on to the rail, praying for his life. He survived the sinking of the ship and swam away, witnessing the bow go under and boys jumping off to avoid being sucked under by the propellers. The survivor's prayer for life was answered, but he had no idea what he would experience in the following days as a survivor in the shark-infested waters.00:10:00 In this section of the YouTube video "USS Indianapolis Survivor Relives Horrifying Experience | Memoirs Of WWII #38," the survivor recounts his experiences with fellow Marines during the aftermath of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. He describes holding a dying new Marine in his arms and finding his injured buddy, Spooner, who was struggling in the oil-covered water infested with sharks. The survivor shares how the sunrise brought no relief, as the water was unavailable and the men were losing their minds due to dehydration and hallucinations. A rain cloud offered some hope, but the oil-covered faces made it impossible to drink the water. The third day brought sight of a raft, and the group decided to head towards the Philippines, despite the long journey ahead. Some sailors refused to join, and none of them survived. The survivor shares how they started their journey towards the Philippines, encountering a swell that revealed something in the water.00:15:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "USS Indianapolis Survivor Relives Horrifying Experience | Memoirs Of WWII #38," Edgar describes his experience of finding potatoes in the water after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. Despite the potatoes being rotten on the outside, they were solid on the inside and provided sustenance for Edgar and his companions during their four and a half days at sea. However, not all of them survived, and Edgar recalls having to revive a sailor who had given up hope. Eventually, they were rescued by a Ventura plane and its crew, who landed their plane despite the damage sustained during the landing. Of the original 1,200 Marines and sailors aboard the Indianapolis, only 316 survived the ordeal.00:20:00 In this section of the YouTube video "Memoirs Of WWII #38" titled "USS Indianapolis Survivor Relives Horrifying Experience," Edgar Harrell recounts his survival of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in 1945 and the impact it had on his personal life. After learning of the ship's destruction, Harrell waited to contact his girlfriend, fearing he was not yet ready to be with her due to the trauma he had experienced. They eventually married in 1947, and Harrell spent the rest of his life sharing his story to honor those who did not survive. Despite the horrors he experienced, Harrell remained grateful for his survival and continued to express his gratitude to God throughout his life.