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All the Drowned Sailors
Spine creased, page edges tanned. Orders received by 3pm Sent from the UK that weekday.
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First published January 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 5, 2019
This is a nicely researched account of the mistakes leading up to the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and the shameful subsequent railroading of the unlucky Captain of that doomed vessel. Lech looks at the entire picture here, from the moment the American ship left port to the sinking and on to the time the gavels fell on the ensuing courts martial.
The ordeal of the sailors in the water takes up probably somewhat less than half of the book, and Lech avoids the opportunity to score a lot of dramatic points with the whole shark aspect of the ordeal. The sharks are mentioned, of course, but only as one of the many hardships endured by the sailors. Lech examines the problems of faulty containers for First Aid supplies, fresh water containers that didn't survive contact with the ocean, rations that actually attracted sharks, and underequipped and poorly designed life rafts. He details how the ship's officers had to deal with rebellious behaviour bordering on mutiny and describes the despair of the survivors when passing aircraft did not respond to flares.
What really surprised me about the incident, especially since we are talking about a ship from the USA, a country we are told that fairly bristles with firearms, is that not a single firearm seems to have been available to the survivors. A rifle in a lifeboat might have done much to deter marauding sharks, and a sidearm on an officer might well have prevented one of the murders or quelled some mutinous behaviour before it got out of hand. As it happens, Lech used very few individual accounts of the disaster, only as many as were required to tell the story.
Once the few survivors were hauled out of the drink, the USN realized that it had stepped on its dick bigtime, and cast about for someone to hang to satisfy a public howling for blood. The sacrificial lamb, of course, was McVay, commander of the vessel, ultimately charged for negligence for being torpedoed by a Japanese sub. This is the rough equivalent of charging a little old lady for walking on the same side of the street as the mugger who robbed her. You'll have to read the book to find the outcome of the trial, but I will tell you that one of the witnesses was the commander of the sub that deep-sixed the Indianapolis, probably another military first.
This book is equipped with enough maps, diagrams and photographs to acquaint the reader with the area of the sinking and the people involved. The story itself is followed by a number of Appendices which can get boring, as some of them tend to summarize what you just read in the previous chapters. And, just to get under my skin, one Appendix lists a number of sailors recommended for awards, with no indication as to whether or not the recommendations were actually approved.
I think this is a great read, maybe a little too bogged down in detail for some. Eventually I'm going to want to track down some accounts written by survivors to get a more personal insight into this tragedy, but this book is no slouch. Just a little impersonal.
The ordeal of the sailors in the water takes up probably somewhat less than half of the book, and Lech avoids the opportunity to score a lot of dramatic points with the whole shark aspect of the ordeal. The sharks are mentioned, of course, but only as one of the many hardships endured by the sailors. Lech examines the problems of faulty containers for First Aid supplies, fresh water containers that didn't survive contact with the ocean, rations that actually attracted sharks, and underequipped and poorly designed life rafts. He details how the ship's officers had to deal with rebellious behaviour bordering on mutiny and describes the despair of the survivors when passing aircraft did not respond to flares.
What really surprised me about the incident, especially since we are talking about a ship from the USA, a country we are told that fairly bristles with firearms, is that not a single firearm seems to have been available to the survivors. A rifle in a lifeboat might have done much to deter marauding sharks, and a sidearm on an officer might well have prevented one of the murders or quelled some mutinous behaviour before it got out of hand. As it happens, Lech used very few individual accounts of the disaster, only as many as were required to tell the story.
Once the few survivors were hauled out of the drink, the USN realized that it had stepped on its dick bigtime, and cast about for someone to hang to satisfy a public howling for blood. The sacrificial lamb, of course, was McVay, commander of the vessel, ultimately charged for negligence for being torpedoed by a Japanese sub. This is the rough equivalent of charging a little old lady for walking on the same side of the street as the mugger who robbed her. You'll have to read the book to find the outcome of the trial, but I will tell you that one of the witnesses was the commander of the sub that deep-sixed the Indianapolis, probably another military first.
This book is equipped with enough maps, diagrams and photographs to acquaint the reader with the area of the sinking and the people involved. The story itself is followed by a number of Appendices which can get boring, as some of them tend to summarize what you just read in the previous chapters. And, just to get under my skin, one Appendix lists a number of sailors recommended for awards, with no indication as to whether or not the recommendations were actually approved.
I think this is a great read, maybe a little too bogged down in detail for some. Eventually I'm going to want to track down some accounts written by survivors to get a more personal insight into this tragedy, but this book is no slouch. Just a little impersonal.
September 4, 2012
This was a great read. I always thought that when the Indianapolis sank, the men in the water would have had only to worry about sharks. I (probably naively) did not consider that the men themselves would be as much a threat to each other as the sea's predators.
The fact that they spent so much time lost in the ocean due mainly to human error and disinterest is horrifying. That nearly 1,000 men went into the sea, and most never came out again, is terrifying.
One of the saddest parts I read - apart from the men turning on each other through heatstroke, thirst and fear - was when delirium set in, and they would take off their life jackets to get into deeper water, where there was 'less salt - it's almost fresh', and drink until they were physically sick and dehydration set in worse than ever.
There was a sad tale told by one of the surviving officers, who recalled seeing a line of men, a great queue of them, stretching through the ocean. When he reached the end, he asked the man what everyone was lining up for; he was told there was a hotel up ahead, and that they only had one bed available so everyone was queueing up for their 15 minutes each in a nice warm bed...
It was a horrifying, emotional, exhausting read - but also was fascinating, and completely gripping.
The fact that they spent so much time lost in the ocean due mainly to human error and disinterest is horrifying. That nearly 1,000 men went into the sea, and most never came out again, is terrifying.
One of the saddest parts I read - apart from the men turning on each other through heatstroke, thirst and fear - was when delirium set in, and they would take off their life jackets to get into deeper water, where there was 'less salt - it's almost fresh', and drink until they were physically sick and dehydration set in worse than ever.
There was a sad tale told by one of the surviving officers, who recalled seeing a line of men, a great queue of them, stretching through the ocean. When he reached the end, he asked the man what everyone was lining up for; he was told there was a hotel up ahead, and that they only had one bed available so everyone was queueing up for their 15 minutes each in a nice warm bed...
It was a horrifying, emotional, exhausting read - but also was fascinating, and completely gripping.
November 20, 2012
I just finished reading this book called All the Drowned Sailors about the sinking of the Indianapolis in the Philippine Sea in 1945. It was torpedoed by a Japanese sub because the Admirals, Commodores, Officers and their staff didn't let the Captain know that there were Japanese subs in the area (which they did know), did not reroute his ship nor give it an escort. Then the men who survived the sinking were in the water for 4 days!!! Because no one was tracking the ship, they realized it was late to port but just thought it was late and didn't check to see where it was. 1,196 originally on board, 800 safely abandoned her and only 316 survived the 4 days in the sea. The worst of it was though that the captain got blamed by the commodores and admirals to cover all their idiotic mistakes. They court-martialed the captain of the Indianapolis (who did everything right under the circumstances and showed bravery and good leadership) and brought the captain of the Japanese sub to the US to testify against him!!!!!!! Gave that Japanese captain $100 to buy gifts for his wife and children while he was in the US. There was nothing to testify about by the way. It was a complete travesty of justice. I'm really disgusted with the US Navy at the moment.
As the words on the cover of this book say succinctly:
"The cover-up of America's greatest wartime disaster at sea, the sinking of the Indianapolis with the loss of 880 lives because of the incompetence of admirals, officers, and gentlemen."
As the words on the cover of this book say succinctly:
"The cover-up of America's greatest wartime disaster at sea, the sinking of the Indianapolis with the loss of 880 lives because of the incompetence of admirals, officers, and gentlemen."
February 15, 2012
This book is about the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the loss of 880 lives. The book presents evidence and opinions blaming the loss of lives on the admirals and other officers. It's an interesting read no matter how you feel about the conclusions. But it is evident that mistakes were made during the Indianapolis's last mission. Pictures and maps in the book put a face to all involved in this story. Basically, the book indicates the admirals did their best to blame the captain of the Indianapolis while covering up their own mistakes and failure to follow up on their own plans. The book was easy to read and revealing about many officers especially Adm. Nimitz.
December 30, 2020
Fascinating story behind the USS Indianapolis and the mistakes that led to the tragedy.
February 22, 2023
On July 29, 1945, the U.S.S. Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk. Of the 1,199 men on board, 883 perished.
This book reveals the mistakes made by the U.S. Navy which meant only a few of the 800 men who safely abandoned the ship survived the ordeal.
It also reveals the cover up which ensued almost immediately after the sinking and how the majority of the blame was placed onto the captain.
A fascinating but sobering read.
This book reveals the mistakes made by the U.S. Navy which meant only a few of the 800 men who safely abandoned the ship survived the ordeal.
It also reveals the cover up which ensued almost immediately after the sinking and how the majority of the blame was placed onto the captain.
A fascinating but sobering read.
November 1, 2012
I read this 15 years ago. It hailed the heros that fought for our freedom during a time when war did not have the modern electronics and weapons of today. These men were our fathers and grandfathers fighting the Germans during World War II. 1800 men endured several days in the water fighting the lack of food and water, the elements, Large Man Eating Sharks and themselves! A great book!
October 26, 2013
This book was brilliant... It really captured the true horror experienced by all those drowned sailors. The delirium, the distrust, and the danger were all shown to me in this truly tragic tale.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews