World War 2 U.S.S. Indianapolis Cruiser Sinking Survivor Autographed Photograph!

The U.S.S. Indianapolis was a Portland class heavy cruiser commissioned in November, 1932. Her war career began as she operated with carrier task forces in the southwestern Pacific until Spring of 1942. The Indianapolis then served in Alaskan waters for over a year and was credited with sinking a Japanese transport in February. 1943. In late 1943 the Indy became the flagship of the Fifth Fleet and assisted in operations to capture the Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas and Peleiu.

In February and March of 1945 the Indianapolis assisted in attacks on Iwo Jima and the Japanese homeland. She was struck by a Kamikaze on March 31, 1945 and sent stateside for repairs. In late July the Indianapolis made a high speed run to Tinian to deliver components of the atomic bomb. She then sailed for the Philippines and into history.

The tragedy was first brought to the general public’s mind in a famous scene from the movie Jaws where Robert Shaw is telling the story of the Indianapolis to Richard Dryefuss and Roy Schneider. On July 30, 1945 the Indianapolis was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Over 900 men of her 1,200 crewmen went into the Pacific waters. Due to communication and Naval snafus, her loss went unnoticed until luckily a passing aircraft spotted survivors in the water. Only 317 men were eventually rescued. They survived four days in the water with no food, fresh water, medical care or shelter. Men died of wounds, insanity, shark bites, dehydration, sunstroke and exposure. The horrors of those four days cannot be imagined. Ed Harrell was a young U.S. Marine assigned to the Indianapolis and survived the ordeal. His story is told by his book Out of the Depths.

Item is an 8X10” black and white photograph of the U.S.S. Indianapolis at anchor at Mare Island, California. Ed Harrell has signed and added, USMC Survivor. This is his ACTUAL AUTOGRAPH, not a copy! Photograph is in MINT condition! There are highlights to the left of the photo from damage to the original negative.

Bid with confidence, I am a proud member of the Universal Autograph Collector’s Club or UACC (and published, see May-June 2004 of the Pen and Quill, UACC’s bi-monthly publication). I abide by their strict code of ethics. Check out my feedback, over 2600 satisfied buyers and counting! Your money, including return postage costs, is cheerfully refunded if you are not TOTALLY satisfied with the item. As an Ebay Power Seller, you’re guaranteed a first rate transaction! I will accept checks, money orders, credit cards via Paypal and Paypal direct. Check out my other auctions, I add to them every day.

Shipping Information:

I don’t like paying shipping any more than you do. In reality I only break even or oftentimes lose money with every item that I ship. But that is my commitment to buyers for safe, secure and inexpensive shipping. I will happily combine shipping for multiple purchases. Photographs are triple protected placed inside a plastic cover, sandwiched in a manila folder and packed between two stiff cardboards. The outside of the package is marked clearly DO NOT BEND! First class S&H is $3 domestic; international rates are $5.00 for 1st class global, $4.00 for our friends in Canada. Thanks for visiting my auction and good luck with your bidding!

Bill Ownbey