McC - Uss Indianapolis

In Harms Way quiz Todd Fusco

MCC 06/14/2011

Jeff Kaufman

Many have termed the USS Indianapolis as both tragedy and triumph, what do you think?

This indecent was on several levels what I would term willful negligence. Recorded in Naval history as its worst hour for a number of reasons. The USS Indianapolis received this mission when the USS Poseidon failed to come into seaworthy condition . While it is understandable that the urgency of the matter was largely at play it was also known that the USS Indianapolis's repairs where also incomplete. Taking out the Indy without complete sea trails staffed by a crew with a high percentage of polliwogs , could be in itself considered negligence. It was war time, decisions and timing of strategies can and do affect lives. I can appreciate the thought process used to engage the Indy on the mission. What I can not understand is that the upper chain of command and likely the oval office itself, accepted this plan of action for the delivery of the most vital and dangerous piece of weaponry at the time.

It is amazing how much effort was put into the secrecy of the entire Manhattan project . Huge amounts of work and treasure spent to guard the United States best hope off ending the war, saving hundreds of thousands of young lives. The entire project in my opinion was put in extreme jeopardy when the decision was made to load Fat Boy on a ship still under repair. A ship without sea trials and whose Captain could have no clear understanding of the vessels current capabilities. This is the equivalent of giving my six year old daughter a note that says, without further direction from anyone and on your own order, deliver this raw chicken egg to the neighboring city hall.

Many people consider this event a tragedy and I agree . However , probably not within the same mindset. The tragedy in my opinion was the decision making process and judgment executed by our superior chain of command. While most would associate the tragedy with the loss of life and horrific suffering , I must also consider the fact that war is never pleasant. That crew of the USS Indianapolis suffered greater than a man storming the beach on D-Day is demeaning to all veterans. The only triumph in the matter of the USS Indianapolis is that the mission was accomplished – at all.

Place yourself as a crew member involved in this incident, what would you have done?

There is absolutely no way to answer this question, a human being in such a horrific situation would be unpredictable. There are very few men on this planet that have the ability to answer this question with any credibility. Recently the Navy Seals