David HarrellRecensioni

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 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.

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 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.

I received a copy of Out of the Depths: An Unforgettable WWII Story of Survival, Courage, and the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis by Edgar Harrell as part of the LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers Group. This was the first time I had ever received a pre-print copy for review, so that alone got me started into the book right away.

As inspiring as the story is, I can unfortunately not recommend this book. Harrell does give a very detailed portrayal of his ordeal after the sinking of the Indianapolis. His narrative falls short on providing anything new to this story.

Watching any one of the very good History Channel/Nat Geo biographies on the Indianapolis will give you a fuller picture of the event, which is a quite rare occurrence.

Out of the Depths: An Unforgettable WWII Story of Survival, Courage, and the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis

Out of the Depths by Edgar Harrell is a true story of faith, courage, and heroism. This is a book about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in WWII where out of almost 2000 men only 317 survived and what the survivors faced waiting to be rescued. This is Edgar Harrell’s story of what happened and how he was in the water waiting to be rescued, relying on his faith in God to make it through his ordeal.

I was captivated by the heroism shown in the face of such horrendous circumstances and how hope was found in clinging to faith in God, Edgar Harrell tells his story and the others that survived with him from before, during and after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, including the cover up and the making of Cpt. McVay the scape goat for the sinking. It is well written and easy to read and also told in a way that is not too graphic, but at the same time the reader is able to understand and picture the ordeal the survivors faced while in the shark infested water waiting for days to be found and rescued.



This is a book that those who love history, especially military history will want to read. It is also for those who want to read about how your faith in God can and will see you through any circumstance. It is a book about strength, courage, heroism and faith in the time of one of the worst tragedies of the NAVY during WWII. I would recommend this book to be added to your must read list of books.



One of my favorite line of the book was when Edgar Harrell realizes the ship is sinking and he is facing death and he prays and calls out to God, “I knew within my heart that God was answering my prayers and was going to see me through. As the finite security of the great Indianapolis slipped away beneath my feet, the infinite security of the Almighty bore me up and gave me peace-a supernatural peace promised in His Word” pg67

Until Next Time:

GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE OR TEA, SOME CHOCOLATE, A GOOD BOOK AND KEEP ON READING!

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 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.½

The sinking of the USS Indianapolis is a well-known chapter in the closing days of World War II. The incident has even been made into a made-for-TV movie in 1991. Out of the Depths is another account written by one of the survivors of that ill-fate ship. Edgar Harrell was one of the 317 survivors of a crew of 1196. Unlike other versions, Harrell’s story comes from the pen of a committed Christian who maintained his faith in God’s providence throughout the ordeal.

Out of the Depths does not major on the gory details of the four day ordeal afloat in the Pacific – though he certainly hints that there are many left unsaid. Instead, it is tribute to the stamina of the human spirit, the power of a patriotic mentality, and an acknowledgment of the unseen hand of divine guidance who works all things after the council of His will.

I was glad to receive this ARC from Librarything in exchange for a review. I was not required to submit a positive review for this book.

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. 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.

An excellent account of one Marine's survival after being sunk in hostile waters. He states from the outset and it stays clear throughout that his faith in God helped him endure the trials of survival. Some people may be put off by his emphasis on faith, but if you accept that premise from the start, it is a very enjoyable read. Both the fact that it is short and the easy pace of the narrative make this one a one-sitter.

I have read several books on the sinking of the Indianapolis. I found this book to be a part of the historical record of the Indianapolis but from a spiritual explanation. The value of the book lies in the utter despair of the men who were left in the water for 4-5 days and how they coped with this despair. I also looked at how the writing of this book and its principles might be used in our current time. The author goes into the water from a catastrophic scene on board the Indianapolis and within a period of time realizes that not only is he losing shipmates to death from the explosion, but also from shark attacks. As darkness surrounded them the image of the horror, bleakness and despair that must have been felt is overwhelming. The author survives because of his trust in God as he knows and understands him. Some of us have stood at the abyss of life and had to make the decision to turn towards the light or continue in darkness. This book, as I have said, is a spiritual book based on a historical event. I enjoyed reading the book.

Title: Out of the Depths (An Unforgettable WW II Story of Survival, Courage and the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis)
Author: Edgar Harrell USMC
Pages: 192
Year: 2014
Publisher: Bethany
My first introduction to the true story and the men of the USS Indianapolis was when the dedication of the monument here in Indiana became a reality. I learned so many interesting things as I read about the moment in time when lives were irrevocably changed forever. The horror some of these men endured when in the Pacific Ocean for five days in shark infested waters.
I so appreciate the courage I am sure it took for Edgar Harrell USMC to share his story not just with his family but now in print form for readers of all ages. Thanks to Bethany for publishing his story which I will not forget soon. I hope many people don’t just read this book, but also share it with others or buy copies to give away. The encouragement this man received from the Lord, the strength to endure such painful memories along with the injuries he sustained is a testimony to God’s glory. Edgar wrote this book with his son David not to bring focus to himself but for the glory of God. While not escaping the horrors of those five days plus the amount of time it took to heal and still giving glory to God reminds me of the great cloud of witnesses referred to in the book of Hebrews.
I loved reading the whole story even the raw facts though I am sure the authors left a lot unspoken. To write with such authenticity and transparency brings readers a reminder of the cost of the freedoms we enjoy. To learn the history of our Navy and how they acted at this moment in time was sad to read and at times almost unbelievable. Yet, when a young man took time to research and cleared the Captain’s name was extraordinary. Even though by the time his name was cleared the Captain had passed, I think it still helped the survivors along with family members.
Scriptures that were included in the book were ones that give testimony to God and how He holds us and cares for us in such hard times. I take a lot of comfort in the fact that Scripture helped to heal some of these author’s wounds and helped him to be able to go to many places to share the story of the USS Indianapolis and his life afterwards. The pictures helped a lot too because it connected faces and names, making it more powerful when reading. I loved how the author got to hug a very special little young lady, but I won’t say more on this as it would spoil the moment for readers.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, nor thank the author and Bethany for sharing with the world an amazing historical event that is not just a moment in time, but how it still impacts lives today! The book, Out of the Depths, will definitely be in my personal library and read by my sons who are history buffs themselves.
My rating is 5 stars.
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Out-Depths-Unforgettable-Survival-Indianapolis/dp/07642126...
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Out of the Depths by Edgar Harrell (USMC) is the story of a man's trial after his ship, the USS Indianapolis, was torpedoed after delivering the components of the atomic bomb in 1945 to Tinian. He was a member of the Marine detachment on the ship and was lucky to have been sleeping on deck when the torpedoes hit. The majority of the book describes the ordeal of the following 4 days where he was in the water floating only because of his kapok life preserver. He describes the slow decimation of the survivors of the sinking through the attacks of sharks and the effects of hypothermia and dehydration.
Being a Christian he attributes many of the events surrounding his survival to God's intercession. Each chapter is begun by an appropriate Biblical quotation. He was subsequent to the sinking he documents the court martial of the captain and the later reversal of that conviction based on later documentation.
A short book, only 150 pages, it is well written and describes in detail the events of the stranded at sea. I give this book 3 1/2 stars.½

I had heard a little about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis through the years, but not the details as presented in the book, Out of the Depths. As a veteran, reading the horror these brave men went through after the sinking put me right in the water with them. Mr. Harrell did an excellent job in presenting the life of the sailors, the sinking, court-martial, and exoneration of the captain. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in war history or a story of courage and faith.

I could not wait for this book to come and the rewards were far greater than I could imagine. The book is the true story of a surviving Marine of the USS Indianapolis disaster in World War II. Anyone who has seen "Jaws" remembers the harrowing account of surviving the disaster told by Quint who was portrayed as a survivor. As one can imagine, the actual account was much more grim than that.

Edgar Harrell, USMC, told the tale of his survival in such an intense, page turning way, and it was evident that not many details were spared. I could not put the book down and finished it before I even knew it. The actual account was far more horrifying than I could imagine or that had been portrayed in any films I had seen before. Harrell also touched upon issues surrounding the sinking that I had never even knew were issues, which made this even more interesting. But the thing that made it the most interesting of all to me is that this story is the testimony of Harrell, and he uses this in a completely unselfish way, as can be expected.

As the Greatest Generation meets their destiny with God and time, soon we will only have the stories left behind to draw on, this story is one of those and I am grateful the author selflessly shared his story with the world.

While I believe that any book that shines a light on one of the lesser known and more astonishing stories of World War II, not to mention the shameful actions of the Navy that followed, should be read, I can't recommend this book. While obviously an amazing individual, the personal beliefs of the author overwhelm the narrative. One wonders if perhaps the story may have been steered this way by the co-author.

Was expecting a more detailed account of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis as well as an in-depth first person story of survival against tremendous odds. Instead, this was more of an account of a personal religious experience.

In 2004 I readthe book " In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors
by Doug Stanton". It was a good book, however this book by Ed Harrell while only half the pages of Stanton's book reveals more of the horror that the men from the Indianapolis suffered in the 5 days spent in the shark infested waters of the Pacific ocean. It is obvious his faith in God sustained him during this time.

This book appears to simply be a reworked version of the 2005 book of a similar name ("Out of the Depths: A Survivor's Story of the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis"). It provides an interesting first-hand account of the sinking of the Indianapolis, but the beneficial historical information is largely drowned out by Bible quotations, religious interpretations, and other statements of faith that are integrated throughout the short book. The book liberally quotes from other sources, many of which provide a much more robust accounting of the Indianapolis incident and would be worth reading instead.