Posted on 05/09/2021 10:27:58 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Edgar Harrell, the last surviving Marine of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during World War II, has died.
Harrell died Saturday, according to an organization devoted to preserving the ship's legacy. He was 96.
The Facebook group said in a post that it was "shocked and saddened" by the news.
"Ed was beloved among the group, and traveled the world sharing the story of his ship and shipmates," the group wrote. "He joined the crew as a sea-going marine in 1944, meaning he was one of the best of the best. During his time aboard ship, he helped guard components of the atomic bomb. After the torpedoing, he was a hero amongst his shipmates."
"Of course, we’ll miss his passionate telling of the rescue story, and how he felt the Lord’s comfort throughout the ordeal," the post added. "With the passing of James Smith earlier this week, and now Edgar, there are only [five] living survivors. Let’s all do what we can to keep their Legacies alive."
Harrell, with his son David Harrell, published a book about his experiences titled "Out of the Depths" in 2005.
"A Marine survivor describes swimming for five days in shark infested and carnage filled waters in the greatest catastrophe at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy," the book's description reads.
In 2020, Harrell and the seven other surviving members of the USS Indianapolis crew received the Congressional Gold Medal on the 75th annivesary of the ship's sinking.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
“So, eleven hundred men went into the water. 316 men come out, the sharks took the rest, June the 29th, 1945. Anyway, we delivered the bomb.” — Quint
The Indianapolis is one of the more chilling and ironic stories of the War.
Ever since I was a kid, their story hit me hard, and I had a dad and seven uncles that served and one that survived Bataan.
Thank God for the Bomb or else this wouldn’t have been the last time.
I’ll never put on another life jacket
R.I.P. Jarhead...
Semper Fi...
As I recall the Indianapolis delivered the bomb to Midway and then left, was sunk, and their distress signal ignored. Something about secret stuff/mission. I’d hat to depend the government for my well being.
The man has already been through hell.
God receive and rest his soul.
The Indianapolis delivered the Hiroshima atomic bomb to Tinian in the Marianas. It was sunk by Japanese submarine I-58 on the way to Leyte. Mochitsura Hashimoto (captain of the I-58) was the key witness at Captain McVay’s court-martial.
I heard him speak about his experience. Amazing person, amazing story. None of them would have been rescued except that someone on a plane flying overheard happened to catch a glimpse of something in the water.
The man has already been through hell.
God receive and rest his soul.
Heartfelt post.
Bears repeating.
The Facebook group said in a post that it was “shocked and saddened” by the news.
I am saddened, but not shocked. He was 96. RIP.
Quint died in t 1975
One of the best scenes in jaws
I had an uncle who died about 10 years ago. He was one of the survivors.
RIP.
He’s with his shipmates again.
I think I read somewhere that hyenas have the strongest crushing jaw strength of any mammal.
Sorry put that in the wrong thread !
He wrote a book a few years ago about his Ww2 experiences. RIP.
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