This was a sad book about an awful military tragedy. The U.S.S. Indianapolis was on a normal mission, just sailing from one island to another. She was hit by a Japanese torpedo and sunk very quickly. About 300 men went down with the ship. Over 900 other men spent over four days in the water! No one knew they were there, and no one took real notice that the Indianapolis never showed up in port.

The men were tortured by the sun, hunger and thirst, exhaustion, and sharks. Several men went insane. Finally, after five nights, a Navy patrol plane flew past and discovered them. The men were quickly rescued, but only 316 had survived.

After telling of this disaster, the book goes on to tell of the actions taken to make sure something like it does not happen again. Ships are now required to stay in contact almost continuously, and their port of destination must keep better track of what ships arrive when.

Unfortunately, the captain of the ship was court-martialed. Obviously, a Japanese torpedo cannot be blamed on the captain of the ship it sunk! But the Navy badly needed a scapegoat for this disaster, and Captain McVay was it. Recently, a high school student from Pensacola did a project about the Indianapolis and started a crusade to clear McVay's name from guilt. Many people, including survivors of the accident, have joined the cause, though McVay himself, sadly, committed suicide.

A little slow but a damn good book.