My Great Uncle and The U.S.S. Indianapolis
Pictured above are the officers and crew of the U.S.S. Indianapolis. Somewhere in this picture is my uncle. All my life, in asking about his affliction? I was told he was "shell shocked" I learned that phrase when I was a little kid. I guess it was a general term to protect me from the reality of what truly happened to him... I never quite understood it. I just thought that being "shell shocked" was the impact of bombs or explotions etc. Something that would render someone unable to talk or to become mentally handicapped...I never was truly sure what all this meant. My uncle was never able to speak properly or interact with anyone since the tragedy of the Indianapolis. He always needed cared for. He was just a teen when the tragedy took place.....
My uncle as far as I can remember lived with my Grandma and Grandpa (his brother). My uncle was the youngest of thirteen children.... At family functions I remember my uncle just sitting in a chair and writing endlessly. He always had a legal pad and was writing and writing. When you looked at his writing it was non-sensical squiggly lines and curly q's...nothing made any sense. My step dad told me that my grandparents, at one time tried to get his writings analyzed...but nothing ever became of it. As an adult now, I often wonder what his thoughts were as he was writing...Then? As a kid.. It just didn't mean anything. I am certain in my heart of hearts now, it meant something very important to him. Bless his heart.
When visiting my grandparents, my uncle would remember my and my brother and sister's name... He could say words when prompted and sometimes if you listened close enough, he would get a point acrossed. I wish I would have listened closer however.....I will never forgive myself for that.
Last weekend my step-dad and my mom were over for my son's(Noah) birthday party. I was talking to my step-dad about my uncle.... What he told me has stuck with me all this week. It hit me right in the heart like a hammer..
The U.S.S. Indianapolis and it's sinking was the last great Naval tragedy of WWII. My uncle was a sailor on that great ship.
Read The Story Here......
The sinking of the U.S.S. Indainapolis was the largest loss of life at sea in Naval history. The Indianapolis was sunk in 12minutes. Out of 1196 Over 300 sailors were killed on impact from the torpedo of a Japanese submarine....Only 318 made it home alive... The rest died due to exposure, salt poisoining, and shark attacks. The Indianapolis ventured through the waters unaccompanied for it's mission, and because only a few in Naval command knew of it's mission? Upon her sinking, the calls for help were met with disregard because only a few knew of her sailing because of her carrying important pieces needed for the atomic bomb...called Operation "Little Boy"...... They thought the emergency calls were a Japanese prank.....
Naval Historical Accounts....
Hundreds of our own floated in the Pacific waters for four days.... Yes four days. The majority of the Indianapolis survived the torpedo, but after that?... Exposure, the sea, and a massive shark attack took all but just over 300 hundred...Four days of hell on Earth. My uncle survived, but because of the horrific four days he experienced, he was never the same again.
I can only imagine what he had seen and heard over those four days..... Bless your heart, thank you, and rest in peace Uncle Lloyd.
From The Discovery Channel
Thx LT......... 
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