Out of the Depths by Edgar Harrell USMC

Author:Edgar Harrell USMC [Harrell USMC, Edgar]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REL012040, HIS027100, BIO008000, Indianapolis (Cruiser), World War (1939–1945)—Personal narratives (American), Shipwreck survival—Pacific Ocean, Sailors—United States—Biography, Marines—United States—Biography, United States. Marine Corps—Biography, World War (1939–1945)—Naval operations (American), Christian biography—United States
ISBN: 9781441264558
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2014-04-29T05:00:00+00:00

For reasons I cannot explain, I remember referring to him as “Uncle Edwin”—one of my dad’s brothers and a close friend back in Kentucky. I suppose my borderline delirious condition, combined with wishful thinking, caused me to project upon McKissick the image of someone safe, strong, and part of the family I longed to see. Together, we struggled to stay together that fourth morning. This was a formidable task given the ten- to twelve-foot swells that gently lifted us high, only to lower us once again into the depths of the saline valleys. The hypnotic rhythm of the waves only added to my body’s craving for sleep. On several occasions I dozed off momentarily, only to be awakened by the frightening reality of tumbling off my life-saving seat.

On one such occasion, later on that fourth morning, I was aroused from a thirty-second catnap by something far more terrifying. Suddenly, something hit me and splashed water all around me. I was knocked off my little perch and sent flailing into the water. My instant reaction was that another shark had bumped me. I tried frantically to get my life jacket back down under me before he could return. Desperately my exhausted muscles fought the water until I got back into the only secure position available to me—as laughable as that may seem.

When I finally got seated again, I looked, and to my astonishment a million little fish swarmed all around me. These little creatures, about twelve inches long, were everywhere. They were constantly nudging me as they darted back and forth. Evidently I was a curiosity to them, and they certainly were a welcome sight to me. They were a pleasant relief from the sharks I had anticipated! Furiously I tried to catch them with my hands, but to no avail. Whenever I moved, they would all move, as if they were one giant organism. Somehow that little encounter brought much-needed encouragement to me. I suppose it distracted me a bit, causing me to focus on life rather than death.

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