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Left for Dead: A Young Man's Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis
It's an unlikely beginning to what became a momentous, history-changing history fair project. Eleven-year-old Hunter Scott was watching Jaws one day when he first heard about the World War II sinking of the USS Indianapolis. Intrigued, he investigated further, and discovered a shocking, heartbreaking story behind what should have been a tale of heroism and patriotism. Torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, the Indianapolis went down in minutes, taking more than 800 sailors with it. Several hundred survived, but only after spending days in the open sea with sharks diminishing their numbers hourly. This is only the beginning of the tragedy, however. In an effort to make an example of the ship's captain, and in order to deflect blame from itself, the U.S. Navy unfairly court-martialed the captain, painfully changing the lives of all the men involved.
Basing much of his text on young Hunter Scott's research, author Pete Nelson does a fine job of presenting this story through the eyes of many of the survivors. Old and new photos allow readers to know many of the men of the ship, and personal accounts reveal the horrors of those days in the ocean--and later in the courtroom. A bittersweet ending will leave the reader pensive and deeply moved. (Ages 12 and older) --Emilie Coulter
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2002
249 people are currently reading
1375 people want to read
About the author
Pete Nelson
43 books29 followersPete Nelson lives with his wife and son in Westchester, New York. He got his MFA from the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop in 1979 and has written both fiction and non-fiction for magazines, including Harpers, Playboy, Esquire, MS, Outside, The Iowa Review, National Wildlife, Glamour, Redbook. He was a columnist for Mademoiselle and a staff writer for LIVE Magazine, covering various live events including horse pulls, music festivals, dog shows, accordion camps and arm wrestling championships. Recently he was a contributing editor and feature writer for Wondertime, a Disney parenting magazine.
He's published twelve young adult novels, including a six-book series about a girl named Sylvia Smith-Smith which earned him an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. His young adult non-fiction WWII history, Left For Dead (Randomhouse, 2002) about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis won the 2003 Christopher award as was named to the American Library Association's 2003 top ten list.
His other non-fiction titles include Real Man Tells All (Viking, 1988), Marry Like a Man (NAL, l992), That Others May Live (Crown, 2000) and Kidshape (Rutledge Hill, 2004). His novel The Christmas List was published by Rutledge Hill Press in 2004. He wrote, with former army counterintelligence agent Dave DeBatto, a four book series of military thrillers, including CI: Team Red (2005), CI: Dark Target (2006), CI: Mission Liberty (2006) and CI: Homeland Threat (2007) published by Time-Warner. A More Unbending Battle; The Harlem Hellfighters' Struggle for Democracy in WWI and Equality at Home, was published in 2009 by Basic Civitas books. His novel, I Thought You Were Dead, will be published by Algonquin in 2010. He also has two CDs out on the Signature Sounds label, the first entitled The Restless Boys Club (1996), the second called Days Like Horses (2000).
He's published twelve young adult novels, including a six-book series about a girl named Sylvia Smith-Smith which earned him an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. His young adult non-fiction WWII history, Left For Dead (Randomhouse, 2002) about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis won the 2003 Christopher award as was named to the American Library Association's 2003 top ten list.
His other non-fiction titles include Real Man Tells All (Viking, 1988), Marry Like a Man (NAL, l992), That Others May Live (Crown, 2000) and Kidshape (Rutledge Hill, 2004). His novel The Christmas List was published by Rutledge Hill Press in 2004. He wrote, with former army counterintelligence agent Dave DeBatto, a four book series of military thrillers, including CI: Team Red (2005), CI: Dark Target (2006), CI: Mission Liberty (2006) and CI: Homeland Threat (2007) published by Time-Warner. A More Unbending Battle; The Harlem Hellfighters' Struggle for Democracy in WWI and Equality at Home, was published in 2009 by Basic Civitas books. His novel, I Thought You Were Dead, will be published by Algonquin in 2010. He also has two CDs out on the Signature Sounds label, the first entitled The Restless Boys Club (1996), the second called Days Like Horses (2000).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 374 reviews
August 28, 2019
The first time I became aware of the Indianapolis disaster was when I watched Jaws at probably 10 years of age, give or take. Robert Shaw's description of the incident was horrifying. Since then, I've been interested in the tale.
This book goes into the tale and the aftermath. The ship sinking, and the sharks and everything else was bad enough, but the aftermath was bad in it's own right. The captain of the ship was scapegoated for no particular reason. It took a little kid's report to show the US Navy what it should have known all along.
It's inspiring that the kid had the integrity and grit to see the captain's name cleared. It's a shame the Navy couldn't do this themselves without an outside agitation. Really a black eye for them
This book goes into the tale and the aftermath. The ship sinking, and the sharks and everything else was bad enough, but the aftermath was bad in it's own right. The captain of the ship was scapegoated for no particular reason. It took a little kid's report to show the US Navy what it should have known all along.
It's inspiring that the kid had the integrity and grit to see the captain's name cleared. It's a shame the Navy couldn't do this themselves without an outside agitation. Really a black eye for them
May 2, 2014
As a sophomore in high school I don't read many interesting books, but this one appealed to me. I always enjoy reading books that have to do with the military. This book taught me many things and also kept me interested along the way. It wasn't like a history book or a book that is completely made up it was just a perfect mix. I also was able to enjoy it a little more when I met the author and realize how down to earth he is. I would suggest this to most teachers and most students for I am a boy who hates to read and this some how got my attention.
December 11, 2012
The authors purpose of this book was to inform readers about how the U.S.S Indianapolis was sank and there was not a lot of information about the U.S.S Indianapolis. The purpose of this book is not even near to entertain a reader what some of these men had to go through is horrific and terrifying that no one on this planet earth could live through. The theme in "Left for Dead" is not and easy lesson to see right away, but it is in there and once you finish the book its pretty clear what the the theme is and that theme or lesson is never give up. The reason i believe this is because these men were hunted by many animals of the sea from hidden Japanese to dangerous man eating sharks that pray on the weak. The book shows life can and will be tough but you have to keep it together and not lose it. The style of the book is it is interesting i say this because in the book the chapters consist of stories of the survivors that felt like this story needed to be told. I thought this book was very interesting i believe this because every chapter is in a different man's perspective and it shows the fear and the the hope of the men and the thoughts that were running through there minds. I recommend this book to big history buff people and i also recommend this book the navel captains and just plain ship owners that need to be informed about this tragedy.
January 28, 2014
Some films make history while others unintentionally help to change it. How many times have you viewed the movie Jaws and been riveted by the monologue of Robert Shaw's character, Quint, explaining how he had been on the USS Indianapolis, the ship that delivered the atom bomb intended for Hiroshima? The ship went missing after being torpedoed by a Japanese sub leaving over 1000 sailors to be at the mercy of the shark-infested sea? And while the actor got the dates of the sinking wrong the rest of what he spoke was dead on, literally. I never thought to seek out the real history of what happened but 11 year old Hunter Scott saw Jaws and began that investigation into what really happened. What began for him as information gathering for a school project about the Indianapolis became much bigger as he realized there were some wrongs that needed to be made right: to tell the real history of those frightful days that included the navy failing to report the missing vessel for 2 days and to exonerate the ship's captain who suffered a worse fate as the Navy's scapegoat.
October 29, 2013
This is an amazing, heart-breaking book about what really happened to the USS Indianapolis, sunk days before the end of WWII. For the "Jaws" fans out there, you might remember Captain Quint mentioning being a survivor of the sinking of the Indianapolis and being in the water for 5 days, getting picked off by sharks. Well, that story was true and it inspired a middle schooler to delve into the sordid truth and try to right the wrongs of the past. Must read!
March 4, 2011
I must admit, I am a true slacker when it comes to reading (this is my first entry on GoodReads, and there's less than a week left before the end of the quarter - sorry Miss Grimm!*). I needed a book off the required reading list that could also count as a non-fiction, and Left For Dead fit the bill. Who knew killing two birds with one stone could be so, uh, informational? It's not lengthy (a mere 191 pages) and it showcases one of the Navy's biggest disasters during the end of WWll. Written by Peter Nelson, with preface by Hunter Scott, Left For Dead is about the USS Indianapolis and her scapegoat, Captain McVay, who was wrongly accused for the "hazarding" and loss of his ship and many crew.
It began on the night of July 30th, 1945, and the USS Indianapolis was headed for Guam. A Japanese sub lay directly in its path. At around 12:02AM, six torpedoes shattered the water, two of them making a direct hit. Within twelve minutes, 300 men lay lifeless, the rest scattered in the sea, the ship sunk beneath the salty waves. Those who survived the sinking had to spend five days in the ocean with sharks. The Indianapolis' captain was tried and demoted. Wrongly accused, McVay's crew fought for over a period of fifty years to try and get his name cleared. Nothing, until a young boy with a science fair project changed everything. Hunter Scott had a dream to rewrite history. This is the story.
*we are using GoodReads for school
It began on the night of July 30th, 1945, and the USS Indianapolis was headed for Guam. A Japanese sub lay directly in its path. At around 12:02AM, six torpedoes shattered the water, two of them making a direct hit. Within twelve minutes, 300 men lay lifeless, the rest scattered in the sea, the ship sunk beneath the salty waves. Those who survived the sinking had to spend five days in the ocean with sharks. The Indianapolis' captain was tried and demoted. Wrongly accused, McVay's crew fought for over a period of fifty years to try and get his name cleared. Nothing, until a young boy with a science fair project changed everything. Hunter Scott had a dream to rewrite history. This is the story.
*we are using GoodReads for school
July 16, 2009
Titlewave gives Left for Dead a fifth through eighth grade interest level. I found it very interesting reading as an adult. It is amazing what Hunter Scott, an eleven-year-old, accomplished with what began as a history fair project. The book, written by Pete Nelson, is a great motivator for young people. Not only does it speak of heroism, patriotism, and overcoming challenges. it also addresses some of the consequences of war and tries to answer questions such as why many of our veterans avoid speaking of their military experiences. It is a very worthwhile read.
March 25, 2023
Excellent book
November 3, 2022
I got this for free and somehow didn't realize it was from 2002, leading to some initial confusion when dates from the '90s were referenced as "five years ago" (that's only how it works in my brain!) and I was hit with make-it-hip-for-the-kids references to Myst. (The American legislative process is in fact compared to that game twice.)
It then became extremely weird to see various relics of late '90s rah-rah America unquestionably presented -- lobbyists discussed positively! The kid leading the exoneration effort is a proud Young Republican and we're just not looking at that! Joe Scarborough and Newt Gingrich presented in a favorable light! (Amazing moral high ground in seeing a good publicity opportunity in a 12-year-old kid who was obsessed with the Navy, guys.)
Anyway, I read this because 1) free and 2) I'm obsessed with Jaws (this book misquotes the film and I should take another star off for that tbh). Nelson does do a captivating job telling the story of the USS Indianapolis' sinking, with first person surviver stories -- a subject I knew a bit about; and also of the unjust scapegoating and court martial by the U.S. Navy of the Indianapolis' captain, which may have led to his suicide. This I did not know about at all.
I did not need to know that Nelson thought that the survivors' "silver-haired wive [were] all better looking than their men."
Cool opinion! Maybe '90s nostalgia is overrated.
It then became extremely weird to see various relics of late '90s rah-rah America unquestionably presented -- lobbyists discussed positively! The kid leading the exoneration effort is a proud Young Republican and we're just not looking at that! Joe Scarborough and Newt Gingrich presented in a favorable light! (Amazing moral high ground in seeing a good publicity opportunity in a 12-year-old kid who was obsessed with the Navy, guys.)
Anyway, I read this because 1) free and 2) I'm obsessed with Jaws (this book misquotes the film and I should take another star off for that tbh). Nelson does do a captivating job telling the story of the USS Indianapolis' sinking, with first person surviver stories -- a subject I knew a bit about; and also of the unjust scapegoating and court martial by the U.S. Navy of the Indianapolis' captain, which may have led to his suicide. This I did not know about at all.
I did not need to know that Nelson thought that the survivors' "silver-haired wive [were] all better looking than their men."
Cool opinion! Maybe '90s nostalgia is overrated.
June 20, 2025
"I think they’re going to hang this on me,” McVay said."
Surely they did and shame on them!I loved this book and the lesson that Hunter Scott reminds us of and is very often hard to remember, specifically when faced with a huge injustice, sometimes one person can make a difference. An eleven year old boy with a history fair project brought some solace and honor to survivors of the USS Indianapolis and helped to publicly clear the reputation of Captain Charles B. McVay. The f*ckery perpetrated by Admiral King and the US Navy are not hard to believe and there is no indication things have improved over the years (remember Tailhook scandal?), SOP is usually cover up or blame the wrong guy.
This was a sad story, Captain McKay taking his own life and other crew members passing before they could watch the Navy do the right thing (somewhat), unfortunately too late for them.
"Men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted the alternatives". Abba Eban
Surely they did and shame on them!I loved this book and the lesson that Hunter Scott reminds us of and is very often hard to remember, specifically when faced with a huge injustice, sometimes one person can make a difference. An eleven year old boy with a history fair project brought some solace and honor to survivors of the USS Indianapolis and helped to publicly clear the reputation of Captain Charles B. McVay. The f*ckery perpetrated by Admiral King and the US Navy are not hard to believe and there is no indication things have improved over the years (remember Tailhook scandal?), SOP is usually cover up or blame the wrong guy.
This was a sad story, Captain McKay taking his own life and other crew members passing before they could watch the Navy do the right thing (somewhat), unfortunately too late for them.
"Men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted the alternatives". Abba Eban
March 12, 2024
Left for Dead: A Young man's search for justice for the USS Indianapolis
September 19, 2015
I have always been fascinated with the events of the Indianapolis, the ship that was torpedoed after dropping off the bomb. This book also discusses a young boy's Middle School project, how he connected with the survivors who were hoping to exonerate the ship's captain. It included detailed information on what the navy knew and didn't know which also made it very interesting. As a middle school teacher whose father was supposed to be on the Indianapolis, and a fan of the movie 'Jaws', this was a great book for me.
October 12, 2013
i hated this book. it bored me very much and took a really long time to read. the story itself is interesting, but the way the book is written is very boring.
Read
May 3, 2019Personal Response
I enjoyed Left for Dead by Pete Nelson because I learned so much information about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis that I never knew prior to reading this book. I liked that the author explained the story behind Hunter Scott and what his goal was as well. The story goes into a lot of detail of several different survivors and what they had experienced that night and how traumatic of an event it was.
Plot
The main events of the story were about the night that the USS Indianapolis sank after being struck by a Japanese submarine, as well as several other events leading up to that fateful night. The author goes into detail about each different perspective of several sailors and exactly what each of the men had experienced. Before the initial blast from the first torpedo, all was quiet on the deck as each sailor attended to their different tasks. Once the torpedo hit, there was a frenzy and the men didn’t know what had happened quite yet. Charles McVay, captain of the ship, had scrambled up to the deck from his quarters and tried to assess the situation. Within a few minutes, the ship started to go down and McVay had ordered to have an emergency distress signal sent out to alert any broadcast stations in the area to know they were sinking. Shortly after, McVay had to order an abandon ship. Of the remaining 800 men, each of them jumped into the water or tried to get aboard the life rafts, but most of the rafts were destroyed in the blast. Most of the men in the water were covered in oil and wounds, not to mention that shortly after hundreds of sharks were attracted to their position. The men spent five days in the water with no food or fresh water and had to fend for their lives against the sharks. Men died every day, and the others were soon hallucinating and losing their minds. They drifted miles apart in small groups of men. On the fifth day, a pilot had noticed a group of men and flew his plane in for a closer look. After realizing there were men down in the sea, he returned to base and they got a large search party to go and retrieve the remaining men. It took about another day to get everyone out of the sea, but after all was said and done, only 317 men remained. A few weeks after rescue, McVay was summoned to court to be trialed for causing the sinking of his ship and the deaths of hundreds of men. He was eventually court martialed and demoted. The men of the ship didn’t understand this and tried to do everything they could to get McVay’s sentence lifted, but they had little luck. It wasn’t until a boy by the name of Hunter Scott came along in 1998. Hunter made it his goal to let everyone know what really happened that night.
Characterization
The book is told in third person through the eyes of several different sailors from the USS Indianapolis. In the beginning of the book, each of the men were strong young sailors, determined to fight for their country and the Navy during the second World War. However, after the events that unfolded that night, it changed each and every man in ways they could never recover from. Most suffered from PTSD and others couldn’t handle it and commited suicide, including Captain McVay. This event had dramatically altered these men's lives.
Hunter Scott was a young boy who kick started all of this, to make sure people knew what really happened to the Indianapolis. In the beginning, Hunter was an 11 year old boy who had little to no information about the sinking. However, after doing immense research and personal encounters with some of the survivors, Hunter grew in his knowledge and skill of the USS Indianapolis. From this, Hunter was able to inform the public of what really happened and that Captain McVay’s court martial should be resolved.
Setting
Left for Dead has a few different settings throughout the book, but the majority takes place in the Pacific Ocean during World War Two. This has a large impact on the story because this is where the sinking of the Indianapolis occurred and where hundreds of men were stranded for days. The ship was sunk along the Peddie Route, which was the main route ships used in WWII. The Indianapolis was sunk on it’s way to an island to deliver some cargo. Readers who have ever been in or near the ocean can relate to just how miserable it would be having to be stranded there for several days with no food or water, although no one can ever truly understand what these men went through.
Thematic Connection
The main theme throughout the novel is internal/external conflicts. While the men are stranded at sea being subject to shark attacks and dehydration, they are in conflict with not only nature, but themselves. Many of the men begin to kill each other or feed others to the sharks to save themselves. During such desperate times, many of the men don’t know what else to do and they resort to their last option, which in some cases was sacrificing others to save themselves.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a classic military book, especially one where there is so much to learn. I would recommend it to young adults or older due to some of its graphic detailing and some language. However, anyone who likes reading about World War Two will enjoy this book.
I enjoyed Left for Dead by Pete Nelson because I learned so much information about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis that I never knew prior to reading this book. I liked that the author explained the story behind Hunter Scott and what his goal was as well. The story goes into a lot of detail of several different survivors and what they had experienced that night and how traumatic of an event it was.
Plot
The main events of the story were about the night that the USS Indianapolis sank after being struck by a Japanese submarine, as well as several other events leading up to that fateful night. The author goes into detail about each different perspective of several sailors and exactly what each of the men had experienced. Before the initial blast from the first torpedo, all was quiet on the deck as each sailor attended to their different tasks. Once the torpedo hit, there was a frenzy and the men didn’t know what had happened quite yet. Charles McVay, captain of the ship, had scrambled up to the deck from his quarters and tried to assess the situation. Within a few minutes, the ship started to go down and McVay had ordered to have an emergency distress signal sent out to alert any broadcast stations in the area to know they were sinking. Shortly after, McVay had to order an abandon ship. Of the remaining 800 men, each of them jumped into the water or tried to get aboard the life rafts, but most of the rafts were destroyed in the blast. Most of the men in the water were covered in oil and wounds, not to mention that shortly after hundreds of sharks were attracted to their position. The men spent five days in the water with no food or fresh water and had to fend for their lives against the sharks. Men died every day, and the others were soon hallucinating and losing their minds. They drifted miles apart in small groups of men. On the fifth day, a pilot had noticed a group of men and flew his plane in for a closer look. After realizing there were men down in the sea, he returned to base and they got a large search party to go and retrieve the remaining men. It took about another day to get everyone out of the sea, but after all was said and done, only 317 men remained. A few weeks after rescue, McVay was summoned to court to be trialed for causing the sinking of his ship and the deaths of hundreds of men. He was eventually court martialed and demoted. The men of the ship didn’t understand this and tried to do everything they could to get McVay’s sentence lifted, but they had little luck. It wasn’t until a boy by the name of Hunter Scott came along in 1998. Hunter made it his goal to let everyone know what really happened that night.
Characterization
The book is told in third person through the eyes of several different sailors from the USS Indianapolis. In the beginning of the book, each of the men were strong young sailors, determined to fight for their country and the Navy during the second World War. However, after the events that unfolded that night, it changed each and every man in ways they could never recover from. Most suffered from PTSD and others couldn’t handle it and commited suicide, including Captain McVay. This event had dramatically altered these men's lives.
Hunter Scott was a young boy who kick started all of this, to make sure people knew what really happened to the Indianapolis. In the beginning, Hunter was an 11 year old boy who had little to no information about the sinking. However, after doing immense research and personal encounters with some of the survivors, Hunter grew in his knowledge and skill of the USS Indianapolis. From this, Hunter was able to inform the public of what really happened and that Captain McVay’s court martial should be resolved.
Setting
Left for Dead has a few different settings throughout the book, but the majority takes place in the Pacific Ocean during World War Two. This has a large impact on the story because this is where the sinking of the Indianapolis occurred and where hundreds of men were stranded for days. The ship was sunk along the Peddie Route, which was the main route ships used in WWII. The Indianapolis was sunk on it’s way to an island to deliver some cargo. Readers who have ever been in or near the ocean can relate to just how miserable it would be having to be stranded there for several days with no food or water, although no one can ever truly understand what these men went through.
Thematic Connection
The main theme throughout the novel is internal/external conflicts. While the men are stranded at sea being subject to shark attacks and dehydration, they are in conflict with not only nature, but themselves. Many of the men begin to kill each other or feed others to the sharks to save themselves. During such desperate times, many of the men don’t know what else to do and they resort to their last option, which in some cases was sacrificing others to save themselves.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a classic military book, especially one where there is so much to learn. I would recommend it to young adults or older due to some of its graphic detailing and some language. However, anyone who likes reading about World War Two will enjoy this book.
December 27, 2024
Left for Dead by Pete Nelson
This was an amazing book! Mostly because of how shocking it is!
The shit the Navy hid and actions they didn’t take and put a poor guy just doing his best to help save his country is astounding! Captain McVay was put thru the ringer time and time again in quite an unjust fashion simply for the military to save face. He was their scapegoat.
I’m sure all my military friends can attest to more injustices within the military, but damn this was angering to read about!
I love that this book shows so many amazing men’s love and camaraderie. I also adore how it shows how a young, eleven year old boy, can make a difference.
I was very exasperated while reading this book around family over Christmas and now have it other family members reading it as well because I kept spewing info that was downright shocking out loud 🤣
Highly recommend! It’s very well laid out! So much feeling surrounding this disaster!
This was an amazing book! Mostly because of how shocking it is!
The shit the Navy hid and actions they didn’t take and put a poor guy just doing his best to help save his country is astounding! Captain McVay was put thru the ringer time and time again in quite an unjust fashion simply for the military to save face. He was their scapegoat.
I’m sure all my military friends can attest to more injustices within the military, but damn this was angering to read about!
I love that this book shows so many amazing men’s love and camaraderie. I also adore how it shows how a young, eleven year old boy, can make a difference.
I was very exasperated while reading this book around family over Christmas and now have it other family members reading it as well because I kept spewing info that was downright shocking out loud 🤣
Highly recommend! It’s very well laid out! So much feeling surrounding this disaster!
August 29, 2015
This was a very gripping and chilling story. It was sad because of the injustice against the crew and the captain because of the higher ups wanted to cover up decisions that were made during the war. It was sad that many men died that could have been saved. I praise Hunter Scott for his dedication to seek justice for Captain McVay and to tell the story of the USS Indianopolis and the survivors.
"Just after midnight on July 30, 1945, the USS "Indianapolis" was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. The ship sank in 14 minutes. More than 1,000 men were thrown into shark-infested waters. Those who survived the fiery sinking--some injured, many without life jackets--struggled to stay afloat in shark-infested waters as they waited for rescue. But the United States Navy did not even know they were missing. The Navy needed a scapegoat for this disaster. So it court-martialed the captain for "hazarding" his ship. The survivors of the "Indianapolis" knew that their captain was not to blame. For 50 years they worked to clear his name, even after his untimely death. But the navy would not budge--until an 11-year-old boy named Hunter Scott entered the picture. His history fair project on the "Indianapolis" soon became a crusade to restore the captain's good name and the honor of the men who served under him."
Above review by Scholastic.com
The crew members of the USS Indianopolis that Hunter Scott interviewed all feel that Captain McVay should not have been punished and blamed and court martialed for the sinking of the USS and the death of crew members.
Hunter Scotts dad: " My dad says all young people need dream builders in their lives. He says that too many students are surrounded by dream destroyers. Dream destroyers are people who tell you all the reasons you can't do something instead of helping you build your dreams. I have learned never to let anyone destroy my dreams."
HunterScott: " In 1997, with the conviction that I could make a difference, I wrote to President Clinton and John Dalton, then Secretary of the Navy, and asked for the court-martial to be reopened or for the President to pardon Captain McVay. Both of their offices responded with a very nice but stern "no" letters. I think one wonderful thing about being eleven years old is that a letter from the office of the President or the Secretary of the Navy saying something cannot be done doesn't mean too much."
The above did not stop Hunter Scott from seeking justice for Captain McVay and the crew.
Hunter Scott: "I have learned that winners shake off the bumps, don't cast blame or make excuses, and continue down the road with their goals and destination intact."
A little bit of history from the book: "During the First World War (1914-1918), Japan actually entered into an alliance with the United States and occupied German colonial holdings in China and in the South Pacific. In 1931, an explosion on the Japanese-owned South Manchuria Railroad said to be caused by Chinese nationalists (some historians today think the explosion may have been set by the Japanese as an excuse), prompted the Japanese army to occupy all of Manchuria. On July 7, 1937, Japanese troops fought a Chinese patrol on the Marco Polo Bridge, twenty miles west of Beijing, a provocation the Japanese army used to justify occupying all of northern China, then advancing rapidly into eastern and southern China. When World War II broke out in Europe two years later, in the fall of 1939, Japan entered into a tripartite alliance with Germany and Italy, pledging mutual aid for the the next ten years, then invaded French Indo-china (modern day Vietnam), claiming the invasion was purely for defensive purpose."
The book goes on to give more history and the character of Captain McVay who was a navy man through and through.
Then it went on to describe the torpedoing, sinking and the suffering of the men.
"Men covered in fuel oil wiped their eyes to look for their ship, but there wasn't a ship anymore. They kept looking, but there was only the darkness, the black sky and the endless sea."
"....to kill about 300 men and put the rest in the water, roughly 880 men scattered 600 miles west of Guam, 550 miles east of Leyte and 250 miles north of Palau Islands, the closest land."
The men were exposed to the environment--sun, hypothermia, thirst even though surrounded by water but it was saltwater that had deadly effects if the men broke down and drank some, delirium, hunger, and attacks by sharks, burns, etc.
The book was graphic at times about its description of what the men suffered and the human debasement and human courage.
The book was very emotional, thought provoking and informative.
"Just after midnight on July 30, 1945, the USS "Indianapolis" was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. The ship sank in 14 minutes. More than 1,000 men were thrown into shark-infested waters. Those who survived the fiery sinking--some injured, many without life jackets--struggled to stay afloat in shark-infested waters as they waited for rescue. But the United States Navy did not even know they were missing. The Navy needed a scapegoat for this disaster. So it court-martialed the captain for "hazarding" his ship. The survivors of the "Indianapolis" knew that their captain was not to blame. For 50 years they worked to clear his name, even after his untimely death. But the navy would not budge--until an 11-year-old boy named Hunter Scott entered the picture. His history fair project on the "Indianapolis" soon became a crusade to restore the captain's good name and the honor of the men who served under him."
Above review by Scholastic.com
The crew members of the USS Indianopolis that Hunter Scott interviewed all feel that Captain McVay should not have been punished and blamed and court martialed for the sinking of the USS and the death of crew members.
Hunter Scotts dad: " My dad says all young people need dream builders in their lives. He says that too many students are surrounded by dream destroyers. Dream destroyers are people who tell you all the reasons you can't do something instead of helping you build your dreams. I have learned never to let anyone destroy my dreams."
HunterScott: " In 1997, with the conviction that I could make a difference, I wrote to President Clinton and John Dalton, then Secretary of the Navy, and asked for the court-martial to be reopened or for the President to pardon Captain McVay. Both of their offices responded with a very nice but stern "no" letters. I think one wonderful thing about being eleven years old is that a letter from the office of the President or the Secretary of the Navy saying something cannot be done doesn't mean too much."
The above did not stop Hunter Scott from seeking justice for Captain McVay and the crew.
Hunter Scott: "I have learned that winners shake off the bumps, don't cast blame or make excuses, and continue down the road with their goals and destination intact."
A little bit of history from the book: "During the First World War (1914-1918), Japan actually entered into an alliance with the United States and occupied German colonial holdings in China and in the South Pacific. In 1931, an explosion on the Japanese-owned South Manchuria Railroad said to be caused by Chinese nationalists (some historians today think the explosion may have been set by the Japanese as an excuse), prompted the Japanese army to occupy all of Manchuria. On July 7, 1937, Japanese troops fought a Chinese patrol on the Marco Polo Bridge, twenty miles west of Beijing, a provocation the Japanese army used to justify occupying all of northern China, then advancing rapidly into eastern and southern China. When World War II broke out in Europe two years later, in the fall of 1939, Japan entered into a tripartite alliance with Germany and Italy, pledging mutual aid for the the next ten years, then invaded French Indo-china (modern day Vietnam), claiming the invasion was purely for defensive purpose."
The book goes on to give more history and the character of Captain McVay who was a navy man through and through.
Then it went on to describe the torpedoing, sinking and the suffering of the men.
"Men covered in fuel oil wiped their eyes to look for their ship, but there wasn't a ship anymore. They kept looking, but there was only the darkness, the black sky and the endless sea."
"....to kill about 300 men and put the rest in the water, roughly 880 men scattered 600 miles west of Guam, 550 miles east of Leyte and 250 miles north of Palau Islands, the closest land."
The men were exposed to the environment--sun, hypothermia, thirst even though surrounded by water but it was saltwater that had deadly effects if the men broke down and drank some, delirium, hunger, and attacks by sharks, burns, etc.
The book was graphic at times about its description of what the men suffered and the human debasement and human courage.
The book was very emotional, thought provoking and informative.
October 20, 2017
Personal Response
I really liked this book, because I learned a lot more about the USS Indianapolis. My dad said that the sinking was a pretty big deal when he was my age in high school. This book talks about what the military or Navy did to basically cover up the story about what really happened to the USS Indianapolis.
Plot
In this book, a young boy named Hunter Scott is trying to rewrite history by trying to clear the captain’s name with the help of the USS Indianapolis former crewmen of his false accusations. One night, Hunter was trying to figure out what kind of idea he was going to use for his history project, Scott and his dad were watching the movie “Jaws.” When Quint, the fisherman, said he was one of the survivors of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. Scott asked his dad if it was true, his father told him that it was, and that he should do his project on it. This book also tells the story of what happened to some of the crew members that survived and told the tale while the ship was sinking and while they were floating for five days.
Characterization
Hunter Scott- Hunter was a boy who was just trying to find a project for his social studies project. He had no idea that he was going to help a few hundred Navy veterans and change their lives.
United States Navy- The Navy tried to pin the sinking on the captain so that they didn’t look bad for not informing the captain of sightings, an escort, or any other information that could’ve saved the ship. In the end the navy does take the blame and revokes the court martial on the captain.
Impacts Of Setting
This book's story took place in modern times and reflects back on the Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of the Philippines on July 30, 1945. That was when and where the USS Indianapolis was sunk and where the crew floated aimlessly in the hands of the wind and sea, as well as being surrounded by sharks.
This book also took place in the capitol and on television shows, because it is where Hunter was able to get his idea out there and get help from other sources in order to be able to face off against the U.S. Navy.
Theme
This book’s theme is injustice, because the captain of the USS Indianapolis was wrongly accused of the sinking of the Indianapolis. The Navy blamed the captain for not zigzagging when that was not even something that could have changed the fate of the ship. The Navy is the one at fault for not supplying enough safety gear, an escort, or the information that they needed to save the ship; therefore, the captain was at an injustice because he was wrongly accused of a tragedy that was nowhere near his fault.
Recommend
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in anything war related or is looking for a good history project. This book is not gender specific and does have a bit of gore in it, so the age for this book should be high school level (15-18).
I really liked this book, because I learned a lot more about the USS Indianapolis. My dad said that the sinking was a pretty big deal when he was my age in high school. This book talks about what the military or Navy did to basically cover up the story about what really happened to the USS Indianapolis.
Plot
In this book, a young boy named Hunter Scott is trying to rewrite history by trying to clear the captain’s name with the help of the USS Indianapolis former crewmen of his false accusations. One night, Hunter was trying to figure out what kind of idea he was going to use for his history project, Scott and his dad were watching the movie “Jaws.” When Quint, the fisherman, said he was one of the survivors of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. Scott asked his dad if it was true, his father told him that it was, and that he should do his project on it. This book also tells the story of what happened to some of the crew members that survived and told the tale while the ship was sinking and while they were floating for five days.
Characterization
Hunter Scott- Hunter was a boy who was just trying to find a project for his social studies project. He had no idea that he was going to help a few hundred Navy veterans and change their lives.
United States Navy- The Navy tried to pin the sinking on the captain so that they didn’t look bad for not informing the captain of sightings, an escort, or any other information that could’ve saved the ship. In the end the navy does take the blame and revokes the court martial on the captain.
Impacts Of Setting
This book's story took place in modern times and reflects back on the Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of the Philippines on July 30, 1945. That was when and where the USS Indianapolis was sunk and where the crew floated aimlessly in the hands of the wind and sea, as well as being surrounded by sharks.
This book also took place in the capitol and on television shows, because it is where Hunter was able to get his idea out there and get help from other sources in order to be able to face off against the U.S. Navy.
Theme
This book’s theme is injustice, because the captain of the USS Indianapolis was wrongly accused of the sinking of the Indianapolis. The Navy blamed the captain for not zigzagging when that was not even something that could have changed the fate of the ship. The Navy is the one at fault for not supplying enough safety gear, an escort, or the information that they needed to save the ship; therefore, the captain was at an injustice because he was wrongly accused of a tragedy that was nowhere near his fault.
Recommend
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in anything war related or is looking for a good history project. This book is not gender specific and does have a bit of gore in it, so the age for this book should be high school level (15-18).
March 30, 2008
Shocking, frightening, disturbing, infuriating, and all true. This book gave me an even greater respect for our servicemen and women, both past and present.
After delivering parts for “Little Boy,” the atomic bomb that days later would be dropped on Hiroshima, World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis was hit by torpedoes from a Japanese submarine. The huge ship sank in only 12 minutes, leaving over 880 crew members covered in oil and struggling for life in shark-infested Pacific waters. Their distress signals were ignored, and a grueling five days elapsed before help arrived; by then only 317 survivors remained. The story went virtually unnoticed, overshadowed by the atomic bomb and V-J Day. After they were rescued the ship's captain was courtmartialed, despite the fact that there was little he could have done to prevent the tragedy, and despite objections of his surviving crew, who vouched for his leadership. Overwhelmed by guilt, the captain eventually committed suicide.
Jump approximately 40 years into the future: Hunter Scott, an 11-year-old boy who is looking for an interesting school history project, watches the movie Jaws with his father and begins asking questions about the scene in which Quint describes his experience on the U.S.S. Indianapolis. After learning the story of the Indianapolis was true, Scott spearheaded a campaign to absolve the warship’s captain of blame. His story, and the truth behind the fate of the Indianapolis' crew, is told here in compelling detail.
After delivering parts for “Little Boy,” the atomic bomb that days later would be dropped on Hiroshima, World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis was hit by torpedoes from a Japanese submarine. The huge ship sank in only 12 minutes, leaving over 880 crew members covered in oil and struggling for life in shark-infested Pacific waters. Their distress signals were ignored, and a grueling five days elapsed before help arrived; by then only 317 survivors remained. The story went virtually unnoticed, overshadowed by the atomic bomb and V-J Day. After they were rescued the ship's captain was courtmartialed, despite the fact that there was little he could have done to prevent the tragedy, and despite objections of his surviving crew, who vouched for his leadership. Overwhelmed by guilt, the captain eventually committed suicide.
Jump approximately 40 years into the future: Hunter Scott, an 11-year-old boy who is looking for an interesting school history project, watches the movie Jaws with his father and begins asking questions about the scene in which Quint describes his experience on the U.S.S. Indianapolis. After learning the story of the Indianapolis was true, Scott spearheaded a campaign to absolve the warship’s captain of blame. His story, and the truth behind the fate of the Indianapolis' crew, is told here in compelling detail.
August 19, 2014
I have put down so many half-finished nonfiction books in the past few years because I just couldn't trudge through them, so I was truly surprised by how engaging and compelling this book was for me. I almost never read "war books," but this one had me hooked from the first chapter. I was very invested in the sailors' struggle and their coping with the memories and survivor's guilt, and in Hunter's odyssey. When Nelson spends a chapter cataloguing every single error, misjudgement, prideful neglect, bad policy and then scapegoating that led to the loss of so many lives and the irreparable damage to the captain's career and life, my heart was breaking. I actually cried when reading the congressman's speech at the official hearing. I mean, seriously, have you ever cried watching a congressional hearing, let alone reading a transcript? I highly recommend this to people who don't think they'll like it; I was pleasantly surprised and also found I came away with a much deeper understanding of the U.S./Japan naval conflicts during WWII.
May 3, 2014
I thought this book was very intriguing. Knowing the book was based on a true story made everything that more interesting. Yes, at times this book was a little slow but sure enough a few pages later it reeled me in. Chapters 7,8,9 when the boat sank and the sharks came out, everything seemed so unrealistic and far fetched that it was breath taking. To think that real men were stranded out in the pacific with no food or water for the most part gives me goose bumps, not to mention the conditions some of them were in. What made the situation worse was everyday people were dying or getting injured by sharks and other ghastly causes. Knowing the final death count of 880 men and only 300 N’ something men surviving shows the courage and strength the American soldiers had. I would recommend this book to anyone whos interested in wild and crazy events and anything to do with the military, because this book is as real as it gets.
May 2, 2014
I think this book is awesome for three reasons. First, I like the style which the author used to write a fiction novel for young teenager boys. All the data he used are accurate. I like this style. Second, I like the way he used to show the readers about this accident. His sentences are not as boring as other fiction book I read before. He used lots of conversations to show how did the thing happened and how did it end.
I think this is a good way to show readers in a more lively way. Third, I like the method he sat the main character. He set Hunter, a young boy as the main character. This will make sense to teenager readers. They will feel the are the Hunter and they are trying to proof McVay is innocent. This will attract more young readers and courage them to know more about the history. These are the reasons about why I think this is a goo book.
I think this is a good way to show readers in a more lively way. Third, I like the method he sat the main character. He set Hunter, a young boy as the main character. This will make sense to teenager readers. They will feel the are the Hunter and they are trying to proof McVay is innocent. This will attract more young readers and courage them to know more about the history. These are the reasons about why I think this is a goo book.
February 19, 2014
This book was very good because the author described all the situation very descriptive. The strengths of this book is that I don't really like shark books, but I read it and it is very good, but very sad too. The sad parts were sad and they were the parts that made me want to keep reading. Each chapter had it's own sad parts and happy parts the author never repeated anything. This book I would recommend to a classmate if they like compassion,sad, and happy if they read those type of books then they would probably would like this one, unless they don't like shark books. If you also like the type of writing beautiful then I would definitely recommend this book.
September 5, 2019
Great Untold Story
Amazing book. I had never heard of the injustice against the Captain of the USS Indianapolis. This book lays out the story in minute and flowing detail. I loved this book.
Amazing book. I had never heard of the injustice against the Captain of the USS Indianapolis. This book lays out the story in minute and flowing detail. I loved this book.
March 15, 2018
Excellent book. Shows it doesn’t matter how old you can be to right a wrong. Read it and you will know what I am talking about.
May 17, 2017
Personal response: I enjoyed Left for Dead because of its surreal issues when dealing with survival. I take interest in war history, so I had no trouble finding things to like about this book. Some key aspects are the different perspectives of the crew, detailed images within the book to help visualize what is happening, and a section in the back with all the names of the crew members on the Indianapolis.
Plot:The USS Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine on August 14, 1945. The surviving crew who escaped the ship had a much bigger issue, they were stranded in the ocean without any means of communication and limited rations. It took the Navy five days to find the dying sailors. The men had to face dehydration, starvation, hungry sharks, and even themselves as some men lost their sanity. Out of the 1,200 on board, only 300 came from the water alive. After the incident, US high command needed to put the blame on someone for such a horrible event. They chose the ship’s captain, Charles McVay III, although there were things that he did not know. He was unaware of enemy ships in his path even though Command knew of it. Facing great shame in the face of his country, McVay took his life in the 1960’s. Many years later, a student named Hunter Scott decided to make a project on the crew of the Indianapolis and its story. He found out about the true reason for McVay’s blame and that he could be exonerated of his mis duty. Hunter was successful in removing the blame from Captain McVay III.
Characterization: The captain of the Indianapolis, Charles McVay III, was put to blame for the loss of his ship. He was told to go on a zigzag route to Okinawa from Guam, but he did not, because he wanted to make up for lost time. The Pacific High Command did not want to reveal their top secret mission to deliver the atomic bombs to Okinawa to be used later on. They also knew of a Japanese submarine that sunk a liner two days prior to the ship’s departure from Guam. To keep it from enemy ears, command made sure to keep the Indianapolis, as well as its captain, on a need to know basis. If McVay had known all the required information and not a small bit, events may have been very different.
Setting: The crew of the Indy were put into the water 100 miles from the nearest land. It was late August and near the equator, so the sun must have been unbearable. The water didn’t help either. Men, unlucky enough to be left in the ocean, were susceptible to hypothermia through the pressure of the sea water. Some of the men grew so thirsty that they drank the seawater which only killed them faster. Sharks were in abundance and many men were taken by the sea. It took nearly a week for US ships to arrive and save the adrift sailors.
Thematic Connection: A theme for this book could be survival. Out of the many people on board, the survivors stuck together until it seemed no longer possible to live. The survivors defied the ocean and managed to hold on to their hopes and prayers.
Recommendation: I think this is a great book to read for people interested in the second world war. Young men who take interest in war history would definitely enjoy reading about the crew of the Indianapolis.
Plot:The USS Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine on August 14, 1945. The surviving crew who escaped the ship had a much bigger issue, they were stranded in the ocean without any means of communication and limited rations. It took the Navy five days to find the dying sailors. The men had to face dehydration, starvation, hungry sharks, and even themselves as some men lost their sanity. Out of the 1,200 on board, only 300 came from the water alive. After the incident, US high command needed to put the blame on someone for such a horrible event. They chose the ship’s captain, Charles McVay III, although there were things that he did not know. He was unaware of enemy ships in his path even though Command knew of it. Facing great shame in the face of his country, McVay took his life in the 1960’s. Many years later, a student named Hunter Scott decided to make a project on the crew of the Indianapolis and its story. He found out about the true reason for McVay’s blame and that he could be exonerated of his mis duty. Hunter was successful in removing the blame from Captain McVay III.
Characterization: The captain of the Indianapolis, Charles McVay III, was put to blame for the loss of his ship. He was told to go on a zigzag route to Okinawa from Guam, but he did not, because he wanted to make up for lost time. The Pacific High Command did not want to reveal their top secret mission to deliver the atomic bombs to Okinawa to be used later on. They also knew of a Japanese submarine that sunk a liner two days prior to the ship’s departure from Guam. To keep it from enemy ears, command made sure to keep the Indianapolis, as well as its captain, on a need to know basis. If McVay had known all the required information and not a small bit, events may have been very different.
Setting: The crew of the Indy were put into the water 100 miles from the nearest land. It was late August and near the equator, so the sun must have been unbearable. The water didn’t help either. Men, unlucky enough to be left in the ocean, were susceptible to hypothermia through the pressure of the sea water. Some of the men grew so thirsty that they drank the seawater which only killed them faster. Sharks were in abundance and many men were taken by the sea. It took nearly a week for US ships to arrive and save the adrift sailors.
Thematic Connection: A theme for this book could be survival. Out of the many people on board, the survivors stuck together until it seemed no longer possible to live. The survivors defied the ocean and managed to hold on to their hopes and prayers.
Recommendation: I think this is a great book to read for people interested in the second world war. Young men who take interest in war history would definitely enjoy reading about the crew of the Indianapolis.
November 11, 2021
A great book about a young boy named Hunter Scott, who set out to right a wrong about the Captain of the USS Indianapolis, that was sunk by a Japanese sub near the end of WWII.
Hunter was a young boy who was watching Jaws with his father,when one of the actors mentioned ship mates being eaten by sharks.His father told him the story was a true one and it would make a great subject for a project he had at school.
Hunter was then a 6th grade student. He would try for many yrs.to right the wrong done to the Capt.He would write hundreds of letters,meet with the survivors, of which there were few.
More than 850 sailors lost their lives when the ship was struck.
The story is very graphic and some is hard to believe, but the survivors are clear on the details,of which they would never forget.
The last third of the book deals with the Court Martial and the yrs.it took to try and exonerate the good Captain,long after he was gone. Fifty-Four yrs.after the tragedy occurred.
This book lets you see, that no matter your age or circumstances, you can make a difference in someone's life.
Would recommend a very good story.
Hunter was a young boy who was watching Jaws with his father,when one of the actors mentioned ship mates being eaten by sharks.His father told him the story was a true one and it would make a great subject for a project he had at school.
Hunter was then a 6th grade student. He would try for many yrs.to right the wrong done to the Capt.He would write hundreds of letters,meet with the survivors, of which there were few.
More than 850 sailors lost their lives when the ship was struck.
The story is very graphic and some is hard to believe, but the survivors are clear on the details,of which they would never forget.
The last third of the book deals with the Court Martial and the yrs.it took to try and exonerate the good Captain,long after he was gone. Fifty-Four yrs.after the tragedy occurred.
This book lets you see, that no matter your age or circumstances, you can make a difference in someone's life.
Would recommend a very good story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2024
I’ve heard the basic story of the USS Indianapolis before but not in this kind of detail. What I always thought of as shocking is just downright horrifying when viewed through the lens of the survivors and each of their individual stories. Just an unthinkable thing to imagine someone going through. I was incredibly moved by their stories and inspired by their survival. The other part of this book though is to tell the story of the young man who wanted to set the record straight and exonerate the captain who was unfairly court-martialed for the sinking. Hunter Scott was an incredibly mature, talented, and persistent middle schooler who achieved in 3 years what the survivors had been trying to do for five decades. His story was incredibly inspiring as well. I am quite sure that he is a successful adult now, he obviously can do anything. He puts his mind to. Really great book. Highly recommend.
November 14, 2020
Secrets kept
Some secrets are kept for good reasons, some are kept for not good reasons. A thoughtful telling of a tragic tale which is corrected by the efforts of a young man inspired by a tale in a movie. Although I had read other accounts of the USS Indianapolis, this is the first one that make a connection of a more modern naval tragedy. If you like history you will certainly like this book.
Some secrets are kept for good reasons, some are kept for not good reasons. A thoughtful telling of a tragic tale which is corrected by the efforts of a young man inspired by a tale in a movie. Although I had read other accounts of the USS Indianapolis, this is the first one that make a connection of a more modern naval tragedy. If you like history you will certainly like this book.
August 16, 2018
I really like the dedication the boy has to help the captain and his crew and to not forget about the past. The things that the ship crew went through is absolutely astonishing and crazy!!!!
July 9, 2021
I love to learn new thing about something I thought I knew
This is both the story of the USS Indianapolis, and the story of the 11 yr old who fought to exonerate the captain 50 years later.
Most of us have seen JAWS, but very few of us tried to find out if Quint's story was true. Even fewer set out to fight the U.S. Navy and right an injustice.
This is one of those stories that if it were fiction, I'd never believe it remotely possible.
This is both the story of the USS Indianapolis, and the story of the 11 yr old who fought to exonerate the captain 50 years later.
Most of us have seen JAWS, but very few of us tried to find out if Quint's story was true. Even fewer set out to fight the U.S. Navy and right an injustice.
This is one of those stories that if it were fiction, I'd never believe it remotely possible.
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