Sharing Our Stories

Shelley Collins
National Customer Service Center
Atlanta

My uncle, James C. Nichols, served on the USS Indianapolis. He was raised on a farm in northwest Tennessee. He was drafted in February 1944 at age 18. After basic training, he headed for Pearl Harbor. It wasn’t until about eight years ago that he would talk about what happened to the Indianapolis. There were many attempts to contact him and several requests for interviews that he turned down until he finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. The remaining survivors of the Indy reunite every year. This is his story of the ship’s tragic last mission.

James C. Nichols, uncle of Shelley Collins, was aboard the USS Indianapolis for its fateful last mission.

In April 1944, I boarded the USS Indianapolis and headed for the Marianas. Capt. McVay was in charge of our ship and was very much respected. I was on the Indy for five battles, the last being at Okinawa. On March 31, 1945 – two days before the invasion of Okinawa – a kamikaze plane hit the Indy. It hit on the port-aft portion of the ship and splashed over the side. Nine crewmembers were killed. After the hit we went into Kerama Retto for repairs, and then made the long trip back to Mare Island, Calif.

After repairs were made, we were chosen to go on a secret mission to deliver two boxes to Tinian Island. No one knew what they contained, not even the captain. The boxes were delivered under heavy guard. We left there July 28 and headed for Guam. We sailed across the Philippine Sea without an escort. We had no idea that we just delivered the atomic bombs. We were now headed for Leyte Island.

My position on the ship was loader for a 20mm anti-aircraft gun. On July 30, 1945, shortly after midnight, my buddy and I had just gotten off watch. We left the second deck from the main deck and went to our compartment. I sat on my bunk for a short while and suddenly decided to go take a shower. I had shaved and was in my shorts when a torpedo hit us. I tried to get back to my compartment, but couldn’t because of the flames. A second torpedo had hit that area. I did not see my friend or anyone else from that area after that. I went to my gun station, which was under the aft radar station. I was able to find a life jacket there. The ship started to roll, and there was a mad scramble to get overboard. As the ship turned onto its side, I slid down the hull, climbed over the screw shaft and jumped overboard as far as possible. I was a very poor swimmer and was fighting for my life. I swam into a bunch of guys who had a floater net and I hung on. I stayed with this grouping the water for 108 hours.

We had no water or food. Someone gave me a malt ball the second day. We were covered in black oil. Some were lucky to have clothes on. I had nothing to cover my upper body. The sharks were the worst at night. Each morning we would have a few guys missing. In the daytime, you could see the sharks in the swells. Some of the guys would swim off or swim down to the gedunk stand, and we would never see them again.

We saw several planes and prayed they would see us, but were disappointed. After being in the water for 108 hours, we were finally spotted. We owe our lives to the rescue crews of the USS Bassett. I felt sure I could climb the ladder up to the barge but discovered I could not stand. We were taken back to the Bassett where we were cleaned up, treated for oil sores and given one teaspoon of water at a time until we were stronger. The Bassett crew even gave up their bunks for us. I thank them for all they did for me. I was taken to the hospital in Samar, Philippines, for treatment.

I was only 19 years old at the time. This was quite an ordeal for a young farm boy from Tennessee. I lost my two best friends. They were excellent swimmers, and I could hardly swim at all. I think of them so often, and wonder how I could have survived and not them. They were not on the floater net with me. We had great times while together on the Indy. I consider them heroes.

After my honorable discharge in January 1946, I moved to Michigan and worked at auto factories for 26 years. I married my wife, Mary, in 1950 and we just celebrated our 54th wedding anniversary. The Lord has been good to us.