Heroes in the Shadows

This powerful and moving book pays tribute to the heroic young black sailors who perished in the worst sea disaster in U.S. Naval History, and whose service and sacrifice has long been overlooked. While much has been written about the tragedy of the USS Indianapolis CA-35, 'Heroes in the Shadows' sheds light on the untold stories of the African American crew members who played an integral role in the ship's final mission. As one of the most well-recognized ships of World War II, USS Indianapolis earned ten Battle Stars from February 1942 to March 1945 as the flagship of the Fifth Fleet. Its final mission was highly classified and led to the end of the war, with the ship delivering the top-secret fissionable components of the world's first atomic bomb, 'Little Boy'. Tragically, on 30 July 1945, a Japanese submarine sank the ship in just twelve minutes, with 879 men perishing and only 316 surviving the ordeal. This book invites you to learn more about these heroic men and their place in history as they are finally lifted out of the shadows and honored for their service and sacrifice as men of USS Indianapolis (CA-35).