In death, WWII survivor joins shipmates

Scars from the attack
It swam away before going in for the kill. For the rest of his life, Morgan carried scars on his backside from the attack.

Many of his shipmates weren't so fortunate. Morgan could hear their screams as they were attacked.

By the time help arrived five days later, 879 sailors were dead — from drowning, sharks, dehydration, or from injuries suffered in the attack itself. Morgan was one of only 317 to survive, floating on makeshift rafts, wreckage or clinging to each other.

The tragedy inspired the famous monologue in the movie "Jaws," in which the seasoned shark hunter played by Robert Shaw tells of the horrors of floating in the shark-infested waters while awaiting rescue.

Morgan was eventually saved when Navy seaplanes landed in the water and started to pluck out survivors. Some were hallucinating — they thought they were under attack by the Japanese again — and others were hysterical. Ships also arrived to assist in the rescue.

Only one more U.S. ship would be sunk before Japan's surrender in August 1945.

The Indianapolis itself has never been found.

Kept experience to himself
Morgan, a Seattle firefighter after the war, kept the experience to himself for more than four decades.

Witty, of Puyallup, Wash., joined the Navy right out of high school. Two years later, his grandfather opened up.

"I knew that he was in the war, in the Navy, but he never really talked about it until after my grandmother died," Witty said. "One day I just got up the courage and he told me the story."

Once the door was open, Morgan began talking about the tragedy every chance he got. He was a frequent visitor at local schools and historical groups and took part in documentaries to make sure that the story of the Indianapolis would not be forgotten.

"I was worried that he would have bad feelings for me, being a submariner," Witty said. "It was a sub that sank his ship. But he never held that against me."

Morgan's burial at sea, on Oct. 2, was simple but somber.

Scripture was read, along with a eulogy written by another of Morgan's grandsons, Steven Wilson. The order was given for the firing detail to ready their rifles, and three shots rang out.

Turning to face the sea, Witty held the silver pitcher wrapped in a blue cloth over the side of the deck and spread the ashes to the wind.

"Just going to that spot on the chart, what went through my mind was what they must have gone through," Witty recalled. "They knew they were by themselves."

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