Alayna

The survivors were taken to hospitals on the closest islands, including the military base at Guam, where they started the long road to physical recovery. Uh-huh. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy went into damage control mode, developing a strategy to deal with what was obviously a very botched mission.

The survivors were taken to hospitals on the closest islands, including the military base at Guam, where they started the long road to physical recovery. Uh-huh. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy went into damage control mode, developing a strategy to deal with what was obviously a very botched mission.

A big old misstep. Yeah. Among other things, those in positions of authority had denied McVeigh the military escort he'd requested when they set out from Hawaii, ignored the distress signals received by the Indianapolis at the time it began sinking, and failed to recognize the reports from late when the ship didn't arrive as expected. So they did send out successful distress signals.

A big old misstep. Yeah. Among other things, those in positions of authority had denied McVeigh the military escort he'd requested when they set out from Hawaii, ignored the distress signals received by the Indianapolis at the time it began sinking, and failed to recognize the reports from late when the ship didn't arrive as expected. So they did send out successful distress signals.

In simple terms... My jaw is wide open. The entire situation made the Navy brass look incompetent at best and at worst, liable for the deaths of hundreds of sailors.

In simple terms... My jaw is wide open. The entire situation made the Navy brass look incompetent at best and at worst, liable for the deaths of hundreds of sailors.

That kind of scandal and the fallout from any investigations not only reflected badly on the military, but also threatened to overshadow the enthusiasm over the U.S. victory in the Pacific. Uh-huh. In fact, in Washington, high-ranking military officials had already begun demanding answers and scheduling a hearing to determine the cause of the sinking.

That kind of scandal and the fallout from any investigations not only reflected badly on the military, but also threatened to overshadow the enthusiasm over the U.S. victory in the Pacific. Uh-huh. In fact, in Washington, high-ranking military officials had already begun demanding answers and scheduling a hearing to determine the cause of the sinking.

A few days earlier, on August 13th, Captain Charles McVeigh found himself before the Court of Inquiry in Guam, where he was intensely questioned as to the cause of the disaster. During the hearing, a lot of the surviving crew members, who were well enough to appear, testified as to their experience during and after the whole thing.

A few days earlier, on August 13th, Captain Charles McVeigh found himself before the Court of Inquiry in Guam, where he was intensely questioned as to the cause of the disaster. During the hearing, a lot of the surviving crew members, who were well enough to appear, testified as to their experience during and after the whole thing.

When the hearing concluded, a few of the communications officers were lightly punished for failing to recognize the Indianapolis's absence when it didn't return. So like they really just got like a slap on the wrist. Oh, like they didn't return on time and you didn't say anything? Like, who do you? But it was McVeigh who the court really went after. Sorry, what?

When the hearing concluded, a few of the communications officers were lightly punished for failing to recognize the Indianapolis's absence when it didn't return. So like they really just got like a slap on the wrist. Oh, like they didn't return on time and you didn't say anything? Like, who do you? But it was McVeigh who the court really went after. Sorry, what?

Oh, his story is horrifically sad, but they do get justice for him later. Why did they go after him? In their letter to the judge advocate general, which is the JAG, military officials wrote, "...full justification for ordering the trial springs from the fact that this case is of vital interest not only to the families of those who lost their lives, but also to the public at large."

Oh, his story is horrifically sad, but they do get justice for him later. Why did they go after him? In their letter to the judge advocate general, which is the JAG, military officials wrote, "...full justification for ordering the trial springs from the fact that this case is of vital interest not only to the families of those who lost their lives, but also to the public at large."

But when it came time to making their case, officials in Washington failed to mention the myriad ways in which they contributed to the tragedy themselves, choosing instead to lay blame completely at the feet of Captain McVeigh. I don't understand how. In their summary report, the JAG wrote, For both of those things are incorrect. Mm-hmm.

But when it came time to making their case, officials in Washington failed to mention the myriad ways in which they contributed to the tragedy themselves, choosing instead to lay blame completely at the feet of Captain McVeigh. I don't understand how. In their summary report, the JAG wrote, For both of those things are incorrect. Mm-hmm.

But a media blackout went into effect, with only the most basic information about the disaster being released by the military. On August 15, 1945, an Associated Press article went out on the wire, announcing that Indianapolis had sunk in the Pacific, and a few days earlier, the military reported 100% casualties.

But a media blackout went into effect, with only the most basic information about the disaster being released by the military. On August 15, 1945, an Associated Press article went out on the wire, announcing that Indianapolis had sunk in the Pacific, and a few days earlier, the military reported 100% casualties.

and gave a version of events that directly contradicted the statements released a few days later. So it was just mayhem. Like things were being released that were just completely not true. Yeah, like full falsehoods. So the Navy worked very hard to make the charge of failing to send out a distress signal stick, but it soon became apparent that they couldn't do that without implicating themselves.

and gave a version of events that directly contradicted the statements released a few days later. So it was just mayhem. Like things were being released that were just completely not true. Yeah, like full falsehoods. So the Navy worked very hard to make the charge of failing to send out a distress signal stick, but it soon became apparent that they couldn't do that without implicating themselves.