naval operations, american

"For the World War II submariner, every day was a life-or-death trial: going to sea for months at a time; existing in dank, claustrophobic conditions; enduring long stretches of monotonous silence punctuated by adrenaline-spiked episodes of paralyzing fear and victorious elation. It was a duty few men could handle--and even fewer would survive."--bookcover.

Examines the sinking of the "U.S.S. Indianapolis" by the Japanese on July 30, 1945; the crew's five days in the water; and the response of the Navy to the disaster, in which 883 of the 1,199 men on board died.

In this narrative written by his son, retired Marine Edgar Harrell describes his life, particulary as pertains to his serving on the U.S.S. Indianapolis at the time of its sinking and the struggle to survive the disaster, as well as the many years spent working to have the captain of the ship exonerated from charges leveled at him over the incident.

The story of the experiences of the African-American crew of the USS Mason as they made history by escorting six convoys across the Atlantic, performing all the duties of seamanship needed to take a warship into combat.