The Inspiring Story of a World War II Hero's Miraculous
Survival at Sea
July 30, 1945--The USS Indianapolis and its 1,196-man crew
is making its way toward a small island in the South Pacific. The
ship is sailing unescorted, assured by headquarters the waters are
safe. It is midnight, and Marine Edgar Harrell and several others
have sacked out on deck rather than spend the night in their hot
and muggy quarters below. Fresh off a top-secret mission to deliver
uranium for the atomic bombs that would ultimately end World War
II, they are unaware their ship is being watched. Minutes later,
six torpedoes are slicing toward the Indy . . .
For five horrifying days and nights after their ship went down,
Harrell and his shipmates had to fend for themselves in the open
seas. Plagued by dehydration, exposure, saltwater poisoning, and
shark attacks, their numbers were cruelly depleted before they were
miraculously rescued. This is one man's story of courage,
ingenuity, and faith in God's providence in the midst of the worst
naval disaster in U.S. history.
The Inspiring Story of a World War II Hero's Miraculous
Survival at Sea
July 30, 1945--The USS Indianapolis and its 1,196-man crew
is making its way toward a small island in the South Pacific. The
ship is sailing unescorted, assured by headquarters the waters are
safe. It is midnight, and Marine Edgar Harrell and several others
have sacked out on deck rather than spend the night in their hot
and muggy quarters below. Fresh off a top-secret mission to deliver
uranium for the atomic bombs that would ultimately end World War
II, they are unaware their ship is being watched. Minutes later,
six torpedoes are slicing toward the Indy . . .
For five horrifying days and nights after their ship went down,
Harrell and his shipmates had to fend for themselves in the open
seas. Plagued by dehydration, exposure, saltwater poisoning, and
shark attacks, their numbers were cruelly depleted before they were
miraculously rescued. This is one man's story of courage,
ingenuity, and faith in God's providence in the midst of the worst
naval disaster in U.S. history.
"There aren't too many times when the word 'hero' is appropriately
used. Heroes are people who do extraordinary things in the service
of others. Edgar Harrell is a true American hero."--Mike Huckabee,
former governor of Arkansas, host of national television and radio
shows, and bestselling author
"A harrowing account of the sacrifice of sailors and Marines who
fought and died for their country, so we could live. It is a story
you should not and will not ever forget."
--Jeremiah A. Denton Jr., RAdm, USN (Ret.)
"A gripping tale of men tested beyond anything they thought
possible--and how they responded with bravery, endurance, and
faith."
--Oliver L. North, Lt. Col., USMC (Ret.)
"I am deeply grateful to Edgar Harrell and the United States Marine
Corps. If our nation needs anything at this moment, it is the boost
of stories of heroism, courage, and faith. Harrell's unique
description of being aboard the torpedoed Indianapolis in
wartime and his experiences with the treacheries of the deep make
an incomparable read. Brimmed full of illustrations of God's
graciousness and goodness even amidst incredible suffering, Out
of the Depths ought to be read by every serious
American."--Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary
Edgar Harrell, USMC (Ret.), owned and operated a
distributorship for the Pella Window Company in Rock Island,
Illinois, for thirty-five years, served for fifteen years on the
board of Moody Bible Institute, and has been a lay minister
throughout his adult life. He lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, with
his wife, Ola, enjoying their two children, eight grandchildren,
and eight great-grandchildren. Edgar speaks extensively around the
United States about his survival at sea. Learn more at
www.indysurvivor.com.
David Harrell is currently the senior pastor-teacher of Calvary
Bible Church (www.cbctn.org), where he has served since 1997. His
Bible expositions are heard and read regularly around the world
over the Internet and broadcasted over the radio. He is also the
president of Olive Tree Christian Resources (www.otcr.org), which
serves as the media arm of Calvary Bible Church, committed to the
creation and distribution of Christian books, expository sermons,
Internet and radio programming, websites for doctrinally sound
evangelical churches, pastoral training, and church planting. After
attending Moody Bible Institute, he graduated from Grace College,
Grace Theological Seminary, and the Oxford Graduate School where he
earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in social research methods,
which focuses on the sociological integration of religion and
society. He is a former associate professor of Biblical Counseling
at the Master's College, Santa Clarita, California. He is married
to Nancy, and together they have three children and six
grandchildren.