USS Indianapolis - A Closer Look Back

USS Indianapolis CA-35 was one of the most decorated ships in World War II. The heavy cruiser earned 10 Battle Stars, served as Flagship of the Fifth Fleet under Admiral Raymond Spruance, and hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt as his Ship of State prior to the onset of the war. On July 30, 1945 Indianapolis was tragically sunk. Her top-secret mission had been completed in record time just 3.5 days earlier and she was on her way to Leyte to prepare for the invasion of Japan. Two torpedoes penetrated the hull of the ship causing the ship to sink in just minutes. Those able to abandon ship were left floating adrift in dangerous waters for the next 5 nights and 4 days. One out of every four crew members never came home. 1,195 sailed: 879 perished and only 316 survived. The survivors' motto was "Never Forget." Now, 80 years later, we still remember and honor the ship's legacy and her crew members. More than 80% of the crew are represented by an individual photo. Matching a face to a name has been a primary goal among volunteers in the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Legacy Organization for the past five years. This book commemorates the 80th anniversary of the ship's final, fateful mission. The book's 88 pages includes a yearbook style gallery of individual crew members as well as rarely seen photos detailing USS Indianapolis's history, accomplishments, recollections of the sinking and the miraculous rescue efforts, the first reunion of the survivors, and a post-war timeline of newsworthy events. A rare opportunity to own a piece of USS Indianapolis's history. It's a perfect keepsake to share with family and friends of USS Indianapolis's story.