Faithful Resistance
Written by Eva Hicks and Illustrated by Cora Emberton
A BOOK by ME - True Stories Written by Kids for Kids
I learned about the story of Edgar Harrell from a friend Jeff Condit, who was close to this WWII hero. Edgar had relocated to Tennessee to be near his son and had recently passed. I hoped to have the young author and illustrator meet Dr. David Harrell, Edgar’s son, so I mentioned this to the daughter of a WWII veteran whose story had just been completed. She happened to know people in Tennessee, which led to my connection with author Eva Hicks and illustrator Cora Emberton—two incredibly talented young women who brilliantly captured the harrowing tale of one of the Marines and the sailors aboard the USS Indianapolis.
On a secret mission, they unknowingly transported enriched uranium and components for “Little Boy,” the first of two atomic bombs dropped on Japan to end WWII. This gripping story recounts how their ship was sunk by the Japanese after delivering its vital cargo. Edgar and others faced immense challenges, including thirst, hunger, and shark attacks as he fought to survive in the water.
I never tire of hearing the remarkable stories of heroes who have defended the freedoms we still enjoy today.
God bless America!
Deb Bowen, Creator A BOOK by ME
“I had the privilege of meeting with Edgar’s son, Dr. David Harrell, to conduct this interview, as Edgar passed away in 2021. Speaking with David, it became obvious how much Edgar is missed, and I am so very grateful and honored that I have the opportunity to tell his story. Edgar Harrell was a strong individual who went through more than almost anyone could imagine. I hope this version of his story can help you appreciate him. I know I do.”
Enjoy reading this hero’s story!
Eva Hicks, Author
Illustrator Cora Emberton, Dr. David Harrell and author Eva Hicks
Sgt. Edgar Harrell, U.S.M.C., USS Indianapolis Survivor
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, and the simultaneous attack on the Philippines, stories of Japanese atrocities would soon permeate newsreels in local movie houses and on radio broadcasts throughout America. Like millions of other Americans, Edgar and his family worried about Japanese attacks on their homes, families, and farms. As unrealistic as that may sound to us now, it seemed like a very real threat to Americans at the time. German U-Boats would soon sink ships just off of the Eastern U. S. Coast, and the Japanese would invade the Aleutian Islands near Alaska. Given these real threats, Edgar did not wait to be drafted into the armed services. When he was legally able in 1943, he volunteered for the Marine Corps to protect his family and their farm.
Harrell Family Turkey Creek Kentucky 1940
After finishing boot camp in San Diego, California, Edgar attended Sea School in San Francisco. In March, 1944, he joined a Marine guard on board the USS Indianapolis. In 1944-45, he took part in many battles in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Indianapolis. The ship was classified as a heavy cruiser, which was built for speed and long-range missions. The ship was commissioned in 1931, and it would eventually become the flag ship for the commanding Admiral of the Fifth Fleet. The USS Indianapolis took part in the Aleutian Island campaign, and also fought in the Gilbert Islands (including the battle of Tarawa) and helped American forces conquer the Marshall Islands. Later, in 1944, the ship would play a key role in defeating the Japanese at the battles of Saipan and Iwo Jima. During the battle of Iwo Jima, the ship was severely damaged by an enemy, which left the ship in need of major repairs. Edgar was involved in some of the fiercest fighting of World War II. However, things would get considerably worse for him, as the USS Indianapolis was sent to Mare Island naval yards for repairs, and would soon be refitted for a mission vital to ending the war.
Nine Marine survivors of the USS Indianapolis 1945
After refitting, the USS Indianapolis was tasked with a top-secret mission. Edgar and the crew would unknowingly help transport enriched Uranium and other parts for “Little Boy,” the first of two atomic bombs that would be dropped on Japan and end World War II. The mission required absolute secrecy, and the USS Indianapolis and her crew would carry it out alone. Radio silence was ordered, and no one in the Navy outside of Washington was aware of the mission or where the USS Indianapolis would be during the mission. After successfully delivering their payload, the ship headed back towards the Philippines, alone.
USS Indianapolis CA-35 delivered the first operational atomic bomb to Tinian Island harbor 1945
The night of July 30, 1945 was a hot one on the USS Indianapolis, so Edgar and many of the crew were told they could sleep on deck because of the stifling heat below deck. By this time, Edgar had assumed the role of Captain’s Orderly. He finished those duties around midnight and settled down to sleep on the deck with his shoe for a pillow. His sleep was soon ended by a massive explosion. Japanese submarines hit the starboard side of the ship with two torpedoes at 12:15. The first removed the ship’s bow, and the second hit midship, which caused massive explosions and fires below deck. Given that the ship was observing radio silence, and no one at Pacific Command knew about the mission, Edgar and the crew of the USS Indianapolis were in deep trouble.
Chaos ensued as severely-injured men were coming from below deck with no one to help them. Having been trained to report to midship and the commanding officer during battle, Edgar did as he was trained. As he arrived, the C. O. declared the USS Indianapolis lost and ordered her abandoned. Edgar immediately cut down a net containing life jackets. He put his on and assisted others before stepping off the sinking cruiser into dark, slimy, oil-covered waters. As Edgar stepped off, he clearly heard God’s voice in his head repeating familiar scripture. This assured him that God was with him. Edgar swam away from the sinking ship as fast as he could to avoid being sucked down with it. It took merely twelve minutes for the ship to sink. Edgar joined hundreds of sailors and Marines in the shark-infested waters. They were all alone, and although no one outside of their group had any inkling about the perils they faced, Edgar had peace knowing that God was with them.
The men in the water soon gathered together in groups. Edgar’s group initially had 70 men. In the pitch-black waters, sharks hypothermia and salt-water poisoning soon began to take their grim toll. By morning the group had only 35 survivors. By the end of day three, only three men lived, and on the fourth day just two remained alive in Edgar’s group. Throughout this horrific ordeal, two things motivated Edgar to survive: his faith in God and his love for his future wife, who was waiting for him in Kentucky. Edgar believed that God was active during this entire episode. From a timely rainstorm that provided much needed water, to a sack of rotting potatoes that he found floating nearby, he knew Providence was guiding him. It is easy to share Edgar’s faith when examining how he and the rest of the survivors were rescued on the fourth day. When a crew member on a military plane flying overhead was repairing an antenna, he located the men. He just happened to see a silver reflection which turned out to be an oil slick. As the plane got closer, the crew realized that there were hundreds of men scattered for miles in the water. Edgar’s constant and faithful prayers were answered. He and 316 other survivors were plucked from the sea.
Edgar eventually recovered and returned home after months of medical care. Once home, he married his “beautiful brunette,” Ola Mae, and settled into civilian life. This transition was not an easy one, however, as Edgar suffered from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). His faith never wavered. Edgar’s family was raised in the church, and his son, Dr. David Harrell, became a minister. After many years of struggling to reconcile his past and current lives, Edgar turned his horrific experience into his Christian witness. He was invited to churches to share his witness and to tell how his faith conquered his struggles in the war and afterwards. Edgar’s remarkable life story culminated with the publishing of his book, Out of the Depths, which detailed his experiences on the USS Indianapolis and beyond. Edgar passed away on May 8, 2021 in Clarksville, Tennessee. His remarkable story of survival and faith has been an inspiration to many.
Edgar’s son David Harrell, Author of “Out of the Depths”
Faithful Resilience
Young Edgar Harrell was a United States Marine during World War II. His top-secret mission took him aboard the USS Indianapolis, and on July 30, 1945 the Japanese sank his ship. Edgar found himself surrounded by a group of men in the Philippine Sea in the middle of the night. The men were terrified, and during hot days and cold nights they found themselves alone in shark-infested waters.
A BOOK by ME, a book series developed by Deb Bowen, empowers students to preserve history by telling the story of unsung heroes in our communities. For the young participants, it’s a guided cross-curricular project that gathers stories of people who do amazing things but have received little or no recognition. Students learn how to publish a picture book that is a primary source document with photographs and a biography.
Since 2003, Deb Bowen has been arranging meetings between students and individuals from the WWII generation. This intergenerational storytelling results in unique storybooks written and illustrated by kids for kids in the A BOOK by ME series. More about Deb Bowen >
