Honoring Unsung Heroes
Revealing Hidden Stories of Courage and Sacrifice
Beneath the waves of history lies the untold story of the African American sailors aboard the USS Indianapolis. Our purpose is to bring these courageous men out of the shadows, shedding light on their contributions and sacrifices during World War II.
Dive deeper into the history of the USS Indianapolis
“When I saw the book Heroes in the Shadows, a welcomed joy came over me. The joy was expressed not with loud words of gladness, but with a quietness as I just sat staring at the cover that had words that moved me. This quietness with internal joy was followed by my realization that I was looking at the fulfillment of a long-awaited hope.”
~ Lee Roy Pitts, PhD, brother of Albert Rice, StM1c
Our Mission
This book pays tribute to the heroic young black sailors whose service and sacrifice has long been overlooked.
After delivering the top-secret components of the atomic bomb in July 1945, USS Indianapolis was tragically sunk, fading from the surface of the water in less than 15 minutes. Shortly after midnight on July 30, 1945, crew members went about their various duties at sea as the 1,195 men sailed en route to the Leyte Gulf. When the surprise torpedoes struck, those who were not killed on impact, were forced to abandon ship in the deep Philippine Sea with mostly life jackets and floating nets to keep them afloat. Over the next 5 nights and 4 days, they struggled to survive in the perilous waters until they were miraculously spotted and rescued. From an estimated 900 men that had made it into the water, only 316 survived. Still recognized as the worst naval sea disaster of all time, a total of 879 men (three-fourths of her crew) perished.
There were no African Americans among the survivors, and because they did not live to tell their stories, they have been absent from the narrative of the ship’s history – until now.
.jpeg)
Honoring the Past
Thank you for your interest in this book. The publication of Heroes in the Shadows: The Untold Story of the African Americans on the Final Sailing Crew Aboard USS Indianapolis (CA-35) has been a labor of love for those of us who share the ship’s legacy.
The journey to get to this point was different for each of the contributors of the book. It is made possible by the commitment of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Legacy Organization to honor the ship and the African-American crew on her final sailing who had not previously been recognized.
All proceeds benefit the non-profit USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Legacy Organization to continue its efforts towards preserving the ship's rich history.
Where to Find the Book
"Heroes in the Shadows: The Untold Story of the African American Sailors Aboard USS Indianapolis (CA-35)" is available for purchase in both paperback and ebook formats. You can find the book on the following platforms:
Connect with us
Our goal is to be a reliable source of USS Indianapolis’s history. If you would like to be part of that, please sign up below.