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

On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the South Pacific. Approximately 300 men died in the initial impact, while nearly 900 sailors were cast into the ocean. The navy did not detect the ship's absence for almost four days. During this time, the survivors faced severe conditions including rough seas, sharks, hypothermia, and delirium. When rescue finally came, only 317 men remained alive. The captain's court-martial raised several unanswered questions: How did the navy fail to notice the Indianapolis was missing? Why was the cruiser traveling without escort in enemy waters? How did the 317 survivors manage to endure? Journalist Doug Stanton weaves together accounts from three survivors—the captain, the ship's doctor, and a young marine—to tell this story of the disaster and its aftermath. The narrative examines a lesser-known chapter of World War II history through the experiences of those who lived through it.