SEATTLE — In 1945, just days after completing the most highly classified naval mission of World War Two, the USS Indianapolis was struck by two Japanese torpedoes and sank within minutes.
Of the nearly 900 people who went into the water alive, only 316 survived a harrowing five nights and four days in shark-infested waters.
In "vivid detailed" (Los Angeles Times) INDIANAPOLIS authors Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic tell the story of the survivors and of the destroyed Navy heavy cruiser, learned through years of extensive research and interviews with the survivors.
Co-author and National Geographic Historian Sara Vladic and USS Indianapolis survivor Harpo Celaya joined New Day Northwest to discuss the book and Harpo's memories of surviving the event. INDIANAPOLIS is a New York Times Bestseller and was included in Amazon's Top 3 Books of 2018, Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction of 2018, and NPR’s 2018 Staff Picks.
Celaya said he entered the military when he was 17 years old; he had his father sign for him. He saw the flag-raising at Iwo Jima, survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis and - after returning home from war - led his high school basketball team to the state championships.
He did not have a life jacket when the USS Indianapolis was hit, so he jumped off and tried to stay near a friend who was wearing one. However, they became separated.
Celaya found a group of others and stayed with them. During the sinking, he said that caring for injured crew mates is what helped him keep going those five harrowing days. Luckily, he later reunited with his friend with the life jacket after hearing two people speaking in Spanish.
"I think about it every night. I never get over it. I see a lot of old westerns at night because I'm still up at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning," Celaya shared. "It keeps my mind away from thinking of the ship."
He will be going to his first reunion with members of the USS Indianapolis this July.
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