I just read the article about the ship (USS Indianapolis) and it led me here to this site. I read the survivor's story that Woody James had written and he touched my heart. He sounded like a wonderful, kind and sensitive man, and I wish that I had known him. I salute all of those men on board the ship, happy for the ones that made it back safely and to the men that rescued them. I can only imagine what it was like to be in that water and to see death all around. I read there are only 51 survivors left, one just passing recently. May God be with all of you and your families.
ww2kim said
Jun 1, 2011
Woody was the kindest man I've ever known. A gigantic teddy bear who taught me so much right up until the day he died in 2005. He was the first Indy survivor that I met and I've noticed that the rest of the men all have similar qualities to him in that they're humble about being called heroes and they miss their Captain and shipmates terribly.
His grandson hosts this site and I'm sure he's touched by your sweet words.
Kim Nielsen
joanne2222 said
Jun 1, 2011
Thank you Kim. I could tell by reading his story that he was a special man. I watched on UTUBE one of the reunions and I thought what brave men they all were. Recently, I mentioned to a fellow Canadian who I met online about the SS Indianapolis and what they must have gone thru. He informed me that his dad (John Henry Baltus) was on the SS Nerissa. That ship went down on April 30, 1941. His son told me that a survivor last saw his father on the ship so they don't think he ever made it into the freezing water. Only 84 of the ship's 290 were rescued. If anyone is interested, I posted it below. Thanks again for the info Kim and I'm glad Woody's grandson created this site.
I just read the article about the ship (USS Indianapolis) and it led me here to this site. I read the survivor's story that Woody James had written and he touched my heart. He sounded like a wonderful, kind and sensitive man, and I wish that I had known him. I salute all of those men on board the ship, happy for the ones that made it back safely and to the men that rescued them. I can only imagine what it was like to be in that water and to see death all around. I read there are only 51 survivors left, one just passing recently. May God be with all of you and your families.
Woody was the kindest man I've ever known. A gigantic teddy bear who taught me so much right up until the day he died in 2005. He was the first Indy survivor that I met and I've noticed that the rest of the men all have similar qualities to him in that they're humble about being called heroes and they miss their Captain and shipmates terribly.
His grandson hosts this site and I'm sure he's touched by your sweet words.
Kim Nielsen
Thank you Kim. I could tell by reading his story that he was a special man. I watched on UTUBE one of the reunions and I thought what brave men they all were. Recently, I mentioned to a fellow Canadian who I met online about the SS Indianapolis and what they must have gone thru. He informed me that his dad (John Henry Baltus) was on the SS Nerissa. That ship went down on April 30, 1941. His son told me that a survivor last saw his father on the ship so they don't think he ever made it into the freezing water. Only 84 of the ship's 290 were rescued. If anyone is interested, I posted it below. Thanks again for the info Kim and I'm glad Woody's grandson created this site.
http://www.ssnerissa.com/
-- Edited by joanne2222 on Wednesday 1st of June 2011 02:16:09 PM
-- Edited by joanne2222 on Wednesday 1st of June 2011 02:31:09 PM