Returned to the Sea

My wife shared this wonderful story from World War II with me Saturday morning. Here are a few excerpts from the Associated Press article:

When the submarine USS Ohio surfaced at sea and Machinist Mate 1st Class Jason Witty emerged from the hatch to look around, he saw calm, blue water under a peaceful sky — perfect for the solemn task he was about to perform.

On the map, the Ohio was afloat in just another indistinguishable expanse of the Pacific Ocean. As Witty stood on deck holding a silver pitcher, the vessel was alone.

Just like the ill-fated USS Indianapolis, 63 years earlier.

The pitcher contained the ashes of Witty's grandfather, Boatswain Mate 2nd Class Eugene Morgan, who had survived the sinking of the Indianapolis — one of the worst tragedies for the U.S. Navy in World War II.

Morgan had died of a heart attack in June at age 87, just before Witty went to sea, and among his last wishes was the desire to be rejoined with his shipmates at roughly the same spot in the Pacific where the Indianapolis went down.

Witty went on to recount the story that his grandfather had shared with him of how the USS Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine and how he survived for four days in shark infested waters. His grandfather held this horrific story in his heart for over 40 years. Once he shared it with his grandson he continued to share the story in schools and with other groups.. and I share it with you today.. check his story out here.