Edgar USMC Harrell (–2021)

This is a short book by a survivor of the WWII sinking of the USS Indianapolis in the Pacific. He tells his story from his enlistment in the Navy through the aftermath of the sinking and subsequent survivor reunions. I felt the story was well told and that I could picture the sinking events as they happened, and the miseries of the days in the water waiting to be rescued. The authors, the sinking survivor and his son, are highly religious, attributing his survival to divine intervention. show more There are constant religious references and the book is peppered with Bible quotes, which didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the book but may be a problem for some people. show less

Edgar Harrell's Out of the Depths is a fantastic account by a survivor of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in 1945. I had the honor several years ago to attend a panel discussion by about 6 or 8 of the survivors of the Indy sinking. Mr. Harrell was the only one of the ship's USMC detachment present. While one who was not there can never understand the horror that Harrell and his comrades experienced, one gets a sense of it from reading his own account of it. Other reviewers have been show more critical of the author's writing style and his message; but this is a survivor's account of the event - it is not meant to be an impartial or unbiased source. Out of the Depths is the type of account historians LOVE to find when looking for 1st person accounts - it gives not only the facts but his opinion, feelings, etc. Anyone looking for a straight narrative of the sinking of the Indy would be best served by turning to Doug Stanton's book or any of the other number of secondary accounts out there. Out of the Depths is a a very enthralling and quick read and is a must for anyone with an interest in the Pacific war or naval history. show less

A very readable true account about the tragic WW2 sinking of the USS Indianapolis. 900+ men forced to abandon ship at night into shark infested waters...approx a third of their number rescued after 4/5 days at sea...they were "the survivors."

This account is harrowing and will upset some readers. There is no bad language or sexual content. The violence is a necessary part of the story but is graphic in places.

The author gives all of the glory for his rescue to God. He quotes Scripture show more throughout his account and was heard praying, reciting Bible verses and crying out to God whilst stranded in the sea. His witness led to the conversion of at least one other survivor. The author is clear that those who describe him as one of the "lucky ones" are fundamentally wrong. Luck had nothing to do with it. It was all part of God's sovereign plan for his life.

His recent reunions included Japanese enemy combatants. The author candidly states that initially he had problems with anger in relation to those that had wounded/killed so many on their vessel. However, in time he realised that those on the ground were just obeying their governments directives, as indeed he was doing. He also makes the point that evil is orchestrated by Satan himself and those willing to submit themselves to his authority.

Although I was shocked and saddened by the details of this tragedy it was an eye-opening read. The author places God at the centre of his story and clearly explains the Gospel message for those still in darkness. I would recommend it for all adults especially those with an interest in war-time events. show less

The story of Mr. Harrell's ordeal and survival is a gripping one, inportant to be told. His religious faith contributed mightily to his perseverance in the deadly trial he faced. That is the theme of this book, and if you want a personal testimony on the value of faith in promoting survival, look no further. While Mr. Harrell's writing is only serviceable, it is sincere. Unfortunately, Harrel's account is diminished by his missionary zeal and his intolerance for the beliefs of others. Did show more god favor the Allies over the Japanese? In a disturbing paragraph, for example, Harrel reflects "I remember feeling pity for the ones we shot down and rescued. Most were poorly trained young pilots, blinded by ... a fanatical religious fervor to serve some phantom god(or gods) that do not exist." (Ch 2) So the faith of Christians is well-founded, but that of non-Christians is misguided fantasy. Unfortunately this narrow viewpoint mars an otherwise inspiring memoir. show less