Review of Out of the Depths. An Unforgettable WWII Story of Survival, Courage, and the Sinking of The USS Indianapolis

The book "Out of the Depths: An Unforgettable WWII Story of Survival, Courage, and the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis" changed forever what I will think of when I hear someone was shipwrecked. The author goes into graphic detail about what happens to your body when it's in salt water, being surrounded by water which you can't drink and how your throat closes up. The sharks circling, the baking sun and the men didn't have rafts, only life preservers. It was a gripping story.

But what the author wants his reader to get from this is to see God's presence through it all. Edgar Harrell was already a Christian and before he stepped off the sinking ship into the Pacific Ocean he felt that God told him he was going to survive. And he clung to that promise the whole five days as his ship mates died one by one.

One day God sent a little rain for their parched mouths, another a crate of rotten potatoes that a little of the insides were ok to eat. Scriptures came to mind for him to recite and pray. And the eventual rescue was nothing short of miraculous.

Our brave soldiers, airmen and sailors need people to know what they give up for our freedom. And Christians need to let people know how good and merciful our God is, no matter what we are going through.

I was given a copy of this book by Bethany House to review.