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Indianapolis

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Indianapolis

By: Lynn Vincent
Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd
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About this listen

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * “GRIPPING…THIS YARN HAS IT ALL.” —USA TODAY * “A WONDERFUL BOOK.” —The Christian Science Monitor * “ENTHRALLING.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) * “A MUST-READ.” —Booklist (starred review)

A human drama unlike any other—the riveting and definitive full story of the worst sea disaster in United States naval history.

Just after midnight on July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis is sailing alone in the Philippine Sea when she is sunk by two Japanese torpedoes. For the next five nights and four days, almost three hundred miles from the nearest land, nearly nine hundred men battle injuries, sharks, dehydration, insanity, and eventually each other. Only 316 will survive.

For the first time Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic tell the complete story of the ship, her crew, and their final mission to save one of their own in “a wonderful book…that features grievous mistakes, extraordinary courage, unimaginable horror, and a cover-up…as complete an account of this tragic tale as we are likely to have” (The Christian Science Monitor). It begins in 1932, when Indianapolis is christened and continues through World War II, when the ship embarks on her final world-changing mission: delivering the core of the atomic bomb to the Pacific for the strike on Hiroshima.

“Simply outstanding…Indianapolis is a must-read…a tour de force of true human drama” (Booklist, starred review) that goes beyond the men’s rescue to chronicle the survivors’ fifty-year fight for justice on behalf of their skipper, Captain Charles McVay III, who is wrongly court-martialed for the sinking. “Enthralling…A gripping study of the greatest sea disaster in the history of the US Navy and its aftermath” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), Indianapolis stands as both groundbreaking naval history and spellbinding narrative—and brings the ship and her heroic crew back to full, vivid, unforgettable life. “Vincent and Vladic have delivered an account that stands out through its crisp writing and superb research…Indianapolis is sure to hold its own for a long time” (USA TODAY).

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Lynn Vincent (P)2018 Simon & Schuster Audio UK Armed Forces Maritime History & Piracy Military Naval Forces World Survival Heartfelt War Franklin D Roosevelt

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All stars
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Cliche at this stage but this book does read like a thriller and then you realise that it really happened.
You can see the painstaking lengths the authors went to in their research and presentation of the details in this story. The only thing for me is that we can never be certain about what really happened in the water for the survivors but there's enough horrifying detail here and no reason not to believe it, you can imagine it for yourself. Plenty of detail surround the trail of the captain and his exoneration decades later. At all times the utmost of respect is given to those involved and you are free to come to your own conclusions. The story is a human one a one of tragedy and one of perseverence. We can all make mistakes, sometimes terrible ones but coming away from this book you really can't help but feel for Capt Mcvay and the way he was used as a scapegoat. I think the inclusion of testimony and correspondence from commander Hashimoto the commander of the submarine really was fantastic. In the end I didn't want this story to end and perhaps it never really will. A superb book written and presented very well. I'd recommend it to anyone not just history buffs.

Excellent

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This is a story about a cover up but it's so much more than just a cover up. It's a story about people who lived and those who died. It's an intro to US Japan naval war. It's the back story to Enola Gay. Great read on all levels.

Great story and intro to US Japan conflict

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An absolutely brilliant listen. From start to finish this book delivers. Recommended to all listeners.

WOW

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Truly stunning listen from start to finish. The authors have done an amazing job in uncovering the full story of the Indianapolis disaster following its successful delivery of the nuclear bomb in 1945. The stories of the men that survived the harrowing disaster give you a detailed picture of the horrors that befell not only the crew before the Japanese torpedoes struck USS Indy, but also the progressive diminishing of the survivors who initially survived the sinking but failed to last the five days at sea. Superbly presented, this is quite a listen that will long remember.

INDY TRUE STORY

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I returned another audio-book to get this one, and I'm so glad that I did.

I would recommend this to anyone, of any age. It is more than just the story of the loss of a good ship and her fine crew and the rescue of survivors under constant attack by sharks and falling victims to the effects of their injuries and extreme fatigue.
It is also the wonderful and heart breaking story of the battle to redeem the integrity of her Captain; previously tared by unfair charges of negligence.

I consider the trials and traumas of the Captain, his family, and his ever loyal crew members, to be similar in several ways to to those of the many young soldiers who where 'Shot At Dawn', despite evidence (or lack of) which proved them to be innocent for various reasons. Of the battles by their families and others to set the records straight.

So I think that this Audio-book of the story of the 'Indianapolis', also serves as a sort of Memorial, to those remarkable times at the end of World War II. It "...adds balm to old scars". It closes the last pages of a long battle for justice, and provides a valuable aid to researchers and any else, in remembering those events.

Perhaps the best 18 hours and 39 minutes I ever spent. listening . It cost others their lives.
Thank you.

Jack D. Harrison.

For a job well done.

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This is a remarkable and poignant story so well-written and well-narrated. And it’s a testament to the old adage that ‘truth will out’ eventually, no matter how long it takes.
The story covers the Pacific theatre of war; the ship’s delivery of the atomic bomb; the torpedo strike; the days adrift at sea with the horror of shark attacks and the murderous and suicidal delusions brought on by thirst and despair; the court martial proceedings and the anger-inducing cover-up by the navy hierarchy pinning blame on the captain; and the enduring loyalty and determination of the survivors to see justice done and honour redeemed.
Particularly liked the inclusion of the Japanese submarine captain's perspective - as well as the story of the writing of the story at the end.

NO BETTER AUDIOBOOK

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It's difficult to know how anyone could face such horrors and remain sane. However, it also shows great humanity and courage against such awful odds.
This book touched me deeply I prayed for their rescue and cried when at last they were spotted and rescued.
How awful that so many senior officers colluded to blame an innocent and decent man for the faults that were ultimately theirs, driving him to his death. Shame on you.

Heartbreaking

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What a story of courage, fortitude and friendship . Men in the most dire circumstances.
How the top brass lie and manipulate and willing to defame an innocent man.
An amazing book that every person should read.

Courage, strength and fortitude

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Although the subject is very sad, well thats not an adequate description, the audiobook is very good indeed and excellent in terms of narrator, content etc.

I will listen to it again definitely, it was that good, but im being very sensitive to what actually happened as no words of mine are adequate

In summary excellent and I can highly recommend

Very good

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Review 10 - Indianapolis by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic, narrated by John Bedford Lloyd I loved this book, within 3 hours of listening to this audiobook, I was absolutely loving it. I especially liked the way the authors included the USS Indianapolis SSN-697 (which at the time was a Los Angeles class fast attack submarine) into the narrative and how her captain, William Toti, was involved with the ship throughout his career. He spent a part of his early career learning about the ship which this book is about and predated the SSN-697 Indianapolis. There were a number of things about this book which I won't reveal as I don't want to spoil them, but they were really touching especially what Captain Toti did when his submarine was due to be decommissioned. The number of errors which led to the survivors not being found for so long were unbelievable. I'm not going to reveal those errors but I think if you read this book or listen to the audio book you will be disgusted by the size of the errors that were made. The heroism of the men of USS Indianapolis CA-35 and the forces that were involved in the rescue of the survivors was astounding. The treatment of Indianapolis's captain, Charles McVay, following the sinking was disgusting and what happened to him 25 years after the sinking was terrible. If you have ever seen the Nicolas Cage film about this, you will know what I mean. This book is about the greatest at sea loss of life from a single ship in the history of the US Navy, but the story told is fantastic. This book made me wonder how the crew of the Indianapolis could have been left in the water for 4 days and 5 nights. If it wasn't for a lucky sighting of the oil slick from the wreck by a patrol plane, then I was wondering if they would have ever been rescued. This book is split into 5 separate books, the last of which is about the fight to exonerate their captain, Charles McVay, which involves US congressman, Commander William Toti and finally, a young school student named Hunter Scott (an 8th grader) who wrote a project about the Indianapolis. Hunter Scott was influential in getting this going. I can't recommend it enough. The narrator (John Bedford Lloyd) does a fantastic job and made this a very enjoyable book to listen. This book has made me want to read it as a physical book and I will be buying it in the near future. I have also found another book on Ebay which is mentioned in this book, even going as far as having interviews with various survivors including Captain Charles McVay. To the men of the USS Indianapolis who are forever on patrol, may you rest in peace. To those who have joined their crewmates, rest in peace. 5* *****

U.S.S. Indianapolis CA-35 : 5*

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