The jaws of death

Most of us enjoy a good horror story. I would like to share a horror story loosely based on the life of an anonymous sailor who could have been your grandfather or an uncle. This tragic story may possibly be in a hidden diary in your attic. The words never seen before.

Although this isn't my horror story, it's still a horror story.

Dave and I were naval shipmates. We had completed a secret mission and delivered a top secret package. We didn't know what it was and we didn't care, we just wanted to go home. Our enlistments were up and we were ready to move on. 

My friend Dave learned he had been awarded a football scholarship. He had planned to pursue an accounting degree after leaving the navy. As much as he admired the ladies, it wasn't surprising that he wanted a career looking at figures.

We said our good nights to each other and headed for our bunks. Twenty minutes later, a loud explosion rocked our ship. The explosion tossed us from our bunks onto the hard floor. We didn't know what had happened, but we knew we had found trouble.

One of our shipmates banged on our door and told us to get off the ship. We grabbed our life jackets and made our way to the main deck. We followed our shipmates and jumped into the sea.

Everyone began swimming away from the ship. We swam about 100 feet before the ship sank. We realized we had to get away from the sinking ship or we would be taken down with it.

Our first night floating in the water terrified us. We could hear hundreds of our comrades screaming for help while dead bodies floated everywhere. David and I didn't panic because we expected to be rescued within a few hours.

We tried to make small talk to keep from panicking. The night lasted forever. When morning came, we estimated about 900 of us were floating in the water. Unfortunately, many of our shipmates would never live long enough to ever see dry land again. 

We had just entered the gates of Hell and Satan had a special surprise for us. His minions appeared in the form of 12 foot Tiger sharks with coal for eyes, razor blades for teeth, and an unbreakable death grip. Hundreds of Tiger sharks appeared. Our blood had sent them into a frenzy.

I helplessly watched the sea demons feast on my shipmates. I only prayed they were already dead before the sharks digested them.  

Hypothermia, dementia, and dehydration took its toll on the survivors. In horror, I watched several of my shipmates strangle each other in fits of insane rage after drinking the deadly salt water.

Today was Dave's last day on Earth. No more football or beautiful women for him. I held him in my arms and watched him die. He squeezed my hand and told me to be strong. To preserve my own life, I pushed his lifeless body toward an attacking shark. The monster grasped my dead friend's lifeless body and swam away to feast. 

I would have cried if I had any tears left. 

After nearly a week, a rescue ship finally appeared. They pulled 317 of us from the ocean. I don't know how or why I survived. I just know I still love to smell fresh flowers and listen to chirping birds. Supposedly, I am lucky to be alive. I disagree, the lucky ones remain on the bottom of the Philippine Sea. They won't have to live with the nightmares of sharks devouring their friends.

This incident was the most horrific tragedy in the history of the U.S. Navy. It unfolded on July 30, 1945. This is my tribute to the memory of the men who valiantly served aboard the U.S.S. Indianapolis.