Indianapolis

by Lynn Vincent

  Theresa Goldston Brown, for taking the time to tell the story of your mother, Mary Moore, the daughter of LCDR Kyle “Kasey” Moore. We were honored to tell your grandfather’s story and grateful to be able to let readers know that his daughter, Mary, survived him.

  Carl Bauersfeld, Jr., son of Lieutenant Carl Bauersfeld, thank you for sharing with us your father’s autobiography and Navy papers. Your dad, Carl, went on to become a successful attorney in private practice, as well as a friend of the powerful in Washington, D.C.. We were honored that you brought to our attention your dad’s role in the McVay court-martial, even opening your home so that Captain Bill Toti could come by and look at your father’s papers in person. We appreciate you!

  Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp at CombinedFleet.com provided invaluable information on the WWII Japanese submarine fleet. Their amazing website is a go-to spot for anyone seeking more information about this topic. Bob and Sander, thank you!

  Our hats are off to Naval War College archivist Dara Baker, who used her historical acumen to unearth informational treasures from the war college’s vast stacks at Newport, Rhode Island.

  Huge thanks to Ken McNamara, an Indiana War Memorials Foundation board member, for his encouragement and suggestions.

  Admiral Samuel Cox, director of the Naval History and Heritage Command, for his kindness, encouragement and responsiveness as we wrote this book.

  Giant bouquets of thanks to Nathaniel Patch and Lauren Theodore at the National Archives for SS Wild Hunter and USS Harris records. The Harris deck logs sent us down a storytelling path that had remained hidden for more than seventy years.

  Our gratitude to Wilda Reier-Aviles at the Senate Armed Services Committee. Tim Rizzuto, Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, USS Slater, Albany, New York. Captain Manny Hernandez and Lieutenant Nick Edmiston of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Spruance.

  To our friends to whom we are bonded by a common commitment to preserving the story and a respect for Indy’s crew—you took it upon yourselves to help provide research and support in order for us to get the story right. The Ankroms, Jack Barnes, Jody Campbell, the Colvins, Irene Daniels, John Duncan, the Fritzingers, Brian Fruits, Glenn Gray, the Hussey Family, Ken Kebow, Rory Latimer, the Lucas family, Deb Polise, Sarah Cunliffe, Martijn van Haren, Brendan McNally, Pete Pruyn, Ronnie Raines, Anna Runck, Lori Scott, James Theres, Mairead Tucker, Patrick Walmsley. Also, Ryan Gibbons and Kent Fortner at Mare Island Brewery, and the cast and crew of The Soundless Awe. John Gromosiak, for your paintings and for the years of advocacy. Stephen Savage, for the countless hours of help you provided in finding research and contact information for the rescue crew, as well as the LAS men and survivors. Leighton Rolley, best storyteller on the Seven Seas. You helped us get to “the bottom of things” with your bathymetry in the sinking area. Paul Brockman, and his team at the Indiana Historical Society—Suzanne Hahn, Corinne Nordin, Melanie Washington, and Nicole Poletika. Thank you for the incredible resources you provided about the Indianapolis, and the hours you put in helping us locate and copy the many (boxes and boxes of) documents surrounding the court-martial and exoneration. Ken Wright, Joyce Giles, and Barbara Davis and the volunteers at the Mare Island Museum, thank you for all that you do to preserve the history of the historic shipyards. Scot Christenson and the archivists at USNI who helped us with details about the Navy and Indy’s history.

  To the many folks who helped us get word out about Indianapolis: The team at Tiny Horse (Owen, Jon, Kyle, Jill, Mark, Maria, Marlynda, Aimee, and Kana), A. J. Brooks, Anita Busch, Jodi Cilley, John Cimasko, John Decker, Dan Johnson, Wally Leavitt at IndyCar Radio and USAA, Sheldon Margolis, Ann Marie Price, Peter Rowe at the San Diego Union Tribune, Marvin Olasky and Lynn’s many friends at WORLD Magazine, Pete Daly at Proceedings, Denise Scatena, Ray Steele, Nancy Worlie—thanks for helping us share this story with millions!

  To Microsoft cofounder Paul G. Allen for making the discovery of the Indianapolis possible. Without the find by your Petrel crew, so many questions about the ship’s final moments would have remained unanswered. Rob Kraft, Paul Mayer, Curt Newport, Janet Greenlee, Carole Tomko, Rocky Collins, Miles O’Brien, Lloyd Fales, David Wulzen, Mika Lentz, and everyone involved in giving the world the chance to see Indianapolis once again, thank you.

  To the members of Sara’s original crew, who filmed the first Legacy interviews in 2005—Tyra Hughes, Jared and Natalie Hankins, Caitlin Hall, and the team at Pathway Productions. Thank you for getting the dream rolling. And to all those who have been there from the very early days. Who helped make further interviews possible, whether it was by covering startup costs, lending interview equipment, sharing ideas, cheering us on along the way, constantly covering us in prayer, or all of the above. We would definitely not be here without you—Michele Barcello; Brian and Courtney Becker; Shalen and Bethany Bishop; the Bodenhausens and Forsmans; Rana Boeckman; Suzy Bohling; Martha Bohuslar; Charlie and Suzi Bradshaw; Blain Breining; Miriam Brijandez; Chris and Amy Brown; Connie Burton; Scott and Sonia Byers; Eileen Carandang; Jessica Carlton; Leticia Castañeda; Jan Chapman; Brad and Laurie Coleman; Stephanie Connors; Andy and Jenn Cruz; Julie Cox; Olaf and Linda DeKoning; Steve and Jane Diersing; Sean Donohue; Marion Drops; John, Marilyn, Matt and Kim Ebeling; Cecil and Diane Ellison; Josh and Rachel Escalante; Jeff Freeman; Julie Garrett; Tony and Erin Giovanetti; Debbie Gunning; Debbie Hansen; Wade Heimbigner; Tiffany Helfrich, the Hepburns, Christy Hines; Chad and Stacie Hodges; Richard and Kathy Hoefke; Ramie Hong; Adam Hutson; Jim and Lynda Jeffries; Angela Johnson; Ryley and Jenna Johnson; Jon and Melissa Jones; Vince and Megan Joseph; Ben and Emily Kuhnel; Karen Kraft; Hung Lee; Kristina Cook London; Ellyne Lonergan; Amber Longworth; Don and Susan Looney; Ian Lowery; Dimitr and Jennifer Marinov; Vivian Moores; Ingrid Morgan; Bob and Dannye Mason; Yvonne and Summer McCamon; BJ and MacKenzie McLean; Connor McFadden; Denny and Marcy McLarry; Alec and Katie McNayr; Jeanie Meehan; Leah Meinert; the Mills; the Mitchelsons; the Orr family; Bob and Jeanne Peacock; Jim Prechel; Andrea Regalado; Heather Romine; Jenna Sampson; Mike and Sharon Samuelson; Alison Savitch; Paul and Jill Savona; the Siewert family; Mike and Julie Snodgrass; Mila Spasic; Barry and Kathy Spencer; Cody Stenderup; Shirley Tejidor; Rex Thoman; Jill Torres Phillips; Ed and Sandra Townsend; Alan and Lynn Tsunekawa; Beckie Usnik; Lucy Vasquez; Kristen Vassie; Vlada Vladic; Marko and Mikaela Vladic (thanks for always being excited about my projects, and for making me proud to be your big sister); Joyce Warner; Dave and Lynda Williams; Jacquelin Wisniewski; Sha Wit; Kevin and Kendra Witowich, Terry and Kathy Woods, and to the whole Huntley, Siewert and Vladic clans who make up my incredible family—thank you. And to friend and physical therapist extraordinaire Dr. Leslie Desrosiers, who literally got Sara back on her feet and writing again after a back injury. THANK YOU.

  Linda Williams, Mary Jenson, Paula Huntley, and the Dear Readers Book Club, if it hadn’t been for your small group of San Diego book lovers, this book might never have come to be. Thank you for connecting Sara and Lynn!

  Thank you to our agent, Rick Christian of Alive Communications, who has been a stalwart champion of this story and was a valuable sounding board during the development of the manuscript.

  To our publisher, Jonathan Karp, Lynn first dreamed of writing for you more than a decade ago, so this project is a literal dream come true. Thank you for your vision for this story and for taking a chance on a couple of California writers. We are so grateful that you put your trust in us.

  Jofie Ferrari-Adler, your literary passion and dedication to getting the story just right have been inspiring. We lie awake at night trying to decode your mysterious alchemy—that of a merry and accessible literary savant with equal dashes of coach, advocate, and butt-kicker who never hesitates to say when something doesn’t quite ring right or is just downright bad. We very much appreciate your dedication and the fact that you are never satisfied with “good enough.” This book is what it is because of your astute sensibilities and expert guidance.

  Julianna Haubner,
thank you for your uncommon insight and dedication to this story. You had the tricky job of helping us streamline the first 230 pages of the book—absolutely not an easy task for any of us. Your insightful suggestions turned what could have been a painful surgery into a high-five moment for the team.

  To Al Madocs, production editor, who in helping us put this giant manuscript through its paces was always helpful, accommodating, and just plain cool.

  To Paul Dippolito for this book’s fantastic interior design.

  And thanks to those who kept us straight with the legal stuff: Jon Pfeiffer, David Oshinsky, Richard Garzilli, and Neal Puckett.

  To Sara from Lynn: Six years ago, you called me out of the blue to ask if I might like to team up to write the story of USS Indianapolis . . . except that it wasn’t out of the blue. A key feature of my writing career is that I’ve tried to let God guide my work. Since I began writing books in 2005, I have never really “looked” for projects, but rather found myself guided from one to another through prayer and Providence. In 2011, I began praying that God would provide me with an opportunity to write an iconic World War II story. In 2012, you called. I had no idea that, along with the privilege and opportunity of working on this book, I would also be working with a great writer, but is also a woman of industry, faith, good humor, and integrity and, most important, excellent taste in coffee and chocolate. I had no idea that when God guided me to this project, he was also guiding me to a treasured lifelong friend—the kind of friend that you want to work with on every project, always.

  To Lynn’s dear husband, Danny: thank you for supporting a dream that became a calling. Through years, tears (“I can’t do this!”), and fears (“Okay, I really can’t do this!), and many takeout dinners (or no food at all), you have been cheerleader, counselor, and conscience. Thank you for putting up with all the deadline crunches, times when I pounded the keyboard until carpal tunnel flared and I zombied for weeks along on a worn-carpet track between desk, refrigerator, and bed. Also, I’ve said the following before, but will now say it publicly: your wisdom is a guidestar. When I don’t quite know my next move, you are the first person I ask, and your advice is always sound, biblical, and wise. I’ve known you since you were nineteen years old, married you when you were twenty-one. Nearly thirty years later, who woulda thunk you’d mellow into a wise man, and yet you did! It’s not easy for you, being married to an obsessive, pie-in-the-sky storyteller, but somehow you make it work. I love you like a rock.

  To Lynn’s sons, Christian and Jacob: Christian, as you have for every book, you listened patiently every time I said “You’ve got to hear this!” During the writing of this book, Jacob joined the destroyer Navy, reported aboard USS Truxtun, and became part of this long, proud tradition. You have both been on many storytelling journeys with me and this one has been epic. Thank you for always being there to listen.

  To Paula Hough, you mean the world to Lynn and Danny. Thank you for your steadfast love and faithfulness. Lee loved this project and we wish he could’ve joined us on this journey. We know he is watching—in fact, he has already read the book.

  To Lynn from Sara: I couldn’t have asked for a better writing partner in this journey. You were more than worth the wait, and I’m so thankful for every step of this process we’ve shared—the things we’ve laughed through, got pissed about, discovered, forgot, remember again, and everything between. But more than anything, I’m beyond grateful for the friendship that’s formed because of it all. I know that we will do this again someday, and I’m already looking forward to it. Danny, thank you for being the incredible husband you are to Lynn, and the supportive friend you’ve been to me. I respect you a great deal, and the advice you’ve always offered us along this road has played a large role in many of the big decisions we made to get here.

  To Mel, my (Sara’s) sister in this, and friend: I’ll never forget sitting on that couch, all those years ago in Pahrump, telling you this story for the first time . . . to your first reunion in 2010, then producing the documentary, traveling the country (and world) together and sharing the story of Indy. What a journey! Thank you for loving the survivors and Indy families like you do, and for believing in me. There is no possible way this would have been accomplished without you. I can’t wait to see what’s next! And Greg (twin of Ben) . . . and all the Capacias and Johnsons, thank you for inviting me into your family and giving us all the love, support, good food, and good times that made this journey even more enjoyable.

  Jen Bodenhausen, Holly Hepburn and Jenn Cruz. The number of urgent prayer requests you’ve covered over the years is far too many to count, but you were ALWAYS there for me, at full strength. Thanks for the love, the laughs, the walks, the wise counsel, and for all the good food and drinks in between. I love you all dearly and am certain I wouldn’t have made it this far without you (and tacos).

  To my (Sara’s) mother- and father-in-law, Paula and Paul: You are so much more than in-laws to me, and I have such gratitude for all you’ve done to help us get here. Especially for sharing my journey with your prayer group, who always had my back. From that, to helping to transcribe hours of interview footage, to sharing your home with us during the final book edits together. Thank you.

  To my (Sara’s) mom: You always wanted me to be a doctor, but finally gave in and embraced my stubborn dream to be a storyteller. Special thanks goes to my stepdad, Don, for his love and encouragement, and for pushing my mom toward that decision. There hasn’t been a time when you both weren’t by my side, supporting me in every way you could—helping me cover travel costs to do interviews, sending care packages to survivors, volunteering as my research assistants, and just being there to love me. I wouldn’t be living this dream without all the help you gave me.

  And my (Sara’s) husband, Ben: where do I begin? Our joke is that you married in to this journey . . . but the truth is, you became just as much a part of it as Lynn and I did along the way. Your advice and technical knowledge of the ship made all the difference to our story and everything you did to create the maps and help us. But you were so much more than that—best friend, confidant, sounding board, wise counselor, jokester, chauffeur, camera man, audio guy, editor . . . the list goes on and on. Thank you for continuing to live up to those wedding vows that you still keep in your wallet, even after ten years of marriage, and for loving me even when I’m a pain in the butt. There is no possible way I would have survived this without you. Loves you. Pikake!

  And to Sara’s Labrador retriever, Eli, thanks for the snuggles and for always keeping my feet warm when I write. Who’s the best dog ever?

  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

  © HOLLY HEPBURN

  U.S. Navy veteran Lynn Vincent is the #1 New York Times bestselling author or coauthor of eleven nonfiction books with more than sixteen million copies in print. Her best-known titles are Same Kind of Different As Me (with Ron Hall and Denver Moore) and Heaven Is for Real (with Todd Burpo), both of which were released as major motion pictures. Lynn is a senior writer for WORLD Magazine, where she covers politics, culture, and current events. Her investigative work includes exposés of criminals and cranks, corrupt industries, and government agencies, as well as the longest-running federal case in U.S. history. Her articles have been cited before Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court. Lynn has been profiled in major media outlets, including Newsweek and The New Yorker. She lives in the mountains east of San Diego with Danny, her husband of twenty-nine years, her Heritage Softail, and three Labrador retrievers.

  Sara Vladic, an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and honorary USS Indianapolis survivor, is one of the world’s leading experts on the USS Indianapolis, having become obsessed with the story at the age of thirteen. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America, and has for years worked on and off set as production manager, editor and post supervisor, writer, and director for both commercials and live news. She has also worked as talent coordinator, live event producer, and even a stunt woman. She has earned awards for camera work, and has sp
oken on panels for screenwriting and documentary filmmaking. During all of this, and over nearly two decades, Vladic met and interviewed more than one hundred Indianapolis survivors and rescue crew members, and in 2016 she released an award-winning documentary film, USS Indianapolis: The Legacy. She has published new research on the Indianapolis in Proceedings, the flagship journal of the U.S. Naval Institute, and appeared as an expert commentator for National Geographic, the Smithsonian, and PBS’s USS Indianapolis: Live from the Deep, which explored the ship’s wreckage. She and her husband, Ben, live in San Marcos, California.

  MEET THE AUTHORS, WATCH VIDEOS AND MORE AT

  SimonandSchuster.com

  Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/Lynn-Vincent

  Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/Sara-Vladic

  @simonbooks

  ALSO BY LYNN VINCENT

  Dog Company (with Captain Roger Hill)

  Heaven Is for Real (with Todd Burpo)

  Same Kind of Different As Me (with Ron Hall and Denver Moore)

  What Difference Do It Make? (with Ron Hall and Denver Moore)

  Never Surrender (with LTG. William G. Boykin)

  ALSO BY SARA VLADIC

  USS Indianapolis: The Legacy (film)

  We hope you enjoyed reading this Simon & Schuster ebook.

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