Indy Air Show 2009

[DK]

[attachment 129117 20009IndianapolisAirShow6-6-2009122.jpg][attachment 129116 20009IndianapolisAirShow6-6-2009120.jpg][attachment 129115 20009IndianapolisAirShow6-6-2009017.jpg]Joan and I went to the air show yesterday. Was a great day, with good weather. There were alot of different aircraft from all eras there. We saw alot of good flying from not only the stunt pilots, but also from the US Navy Blue Angels. Got to get a close up look of all the aircraft that was there. Really enjoyed the day. The pictures are of Joan and I standing by a WWII fighter, the Blue Angels near the end of the performance. The one picture I really like is with Joan and I with a man named Ed Harrell. Ed is one of the few remaining survivors of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during WWII. The Indianapolis had just delivered the parts for the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. They were in the Phillipine Sea when a Japanese sub fired six torpedoes at it with two hitting the ship. The ship sank in 12 minutes with 300 men on board. Some 900 men jumped into the sea. These men floated in the ocean for 4 days until they were accidentally spotted by a plane. Only 300 men were rescued. Most of those in the water were eaten by sharks. I always wanted to meet one of these men, as I am a history nut. It was an honor to meet and talk to Mr. Harrell. He saw many of his friends eaten alive right in front of him. Many swallowed sea water, which will make you crazy real quick. For you who have been in the military, Mr. Harrell is a Marine. If you get a chance to go to an air show, try it out. I don't know much about planes but I enjoyed it none the less.

 

[7centsworth]

glad you had fun and get to be with your best friend.

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

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[Anonymous]

God saved Mr. Harrell and others so they could tell the world about what war causes when there is no peace! I am so sorry for what he had to see with fellow marines being eaten alive and for swallowing the salt water! That was really a horrible experience and I am so glad that he was at the air show for you to talk to and give you some history of WWII. Too many suffered terrible deaths including 6 million Jews, our fighting men and women and others! I was only 10 years old in 1945 when the war ended, but I still remember a lot and of course have learned more in the previous years and still learning how bad it really was!

The pics are nice and it looks like you both really enjoyed the day! God Bless! Betty

 

[DK]

Ma, God did save Mr. Harrell. He is a Christian, and he travels the nation speaking of the sinking and his faith in Christ. He knows God had a plan for him. He emailed me today, and he is sending me a book that he wrote about what he and the others went through. He is going to sign it for me, which I appreciate. I was in the Navy and spent alot of time out in the middle of the ocean. It is hard for me to imagine what those fellows went through, not only with the sinking of their ship, but to have to watch their shipmates drown or get eaten alive by sharks. The ocean is big and to be floating out there with no hope of rescue, as they were on secret deployment, would be a terrible thing to face. If that plane had not accidentally spotted them they would not have been rescued, but I know that God had that plane there at the right time, and Mr. Harrell knows that too.

 

[Anonymous]

Man! That show had to be a great one. I used to fly years ago, and would have enjoyed being there, talking to that WWII Veteran. Glad y'all had a good time!

 

[TreasureDigger]

Doug, I'm glad you and Joan enjoyed the event! I like the pictures! Thanks for sharing them. I'm also glad you had the honor of meeting Mr. Harrell. The story of of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during WWII is a sad one. Here in Alabama it is the 11th graders (my favorite students to teach) who cover American History 1865 - present. Every time I've taught on the Indianapolis you can hear a pin drop in the room. I'm a teacher who likes to have students do a lot of 'hands on' projects and I've had several students choose to construct models of the Indianapolis and its sinking, as well as to write reports on it. I can't imagine what these men went through.

Thanks for sharing!
Lisa

 

[Anonymous]

I'm so glad that he is a Christian and telling others what he and his fellow navy men had to go through! God sure had and has a plan for him and to be seen by a plane while they floated in the middle of the ocean and on a secret mission too is a miracle and God certainly was in it for Mr Harrell and the rest of the survivers! Congrats on the book and with his signature too! That is a terrific blessing! God Bless! Betty

 

[DK]

Lisa--Mr. Harrell has a book out called "Out of the depths" that he wrote. He is going to send me one and autograph it for me. We are going to meet again during the annual USS Indianapolis memorial reunion in Indianapolis in August. Having read the story of the sinking, it is just amazing to me to actually set down and talk to one who went through this first hand and hear how it all happened in 12 minutes and to hear how he survived for four and a half days floating in the ocean. That was his first comment to me. When I asked him if he was a survivor, he said yes, I swam with the sharks. Another good book is "Ordeal At Sea" by Thomas Helm. You can go to Indysurvivor.com and that is Mr. Harrells' website.

 

[TreasureDigger]

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