Stonewall Jackson (@1776Stonewall)

History Nugget - Hunter Scott, and the Truth of The USS Indianapolis: On July 30, 1945, The USS Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine in the Philippine sea, shortly after delivering the internal components of the atomic bombs that were later dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Due to top-secret status and failed communication, the ship went unnoticed for four days, resulting in nearly 900 deaths at sea in shark infested waters. The ships Captain, Charles McVay III was uniquely court-martialed for failing to zigzag, despite testimony from the Japanese submarine commander, Mochitsura Hashimoto, that zigzagging would not have prevented the attack. (During World War Il, ships were told to zigzag to alter their course, to evade German U-boat torpedo attacks. This tactic aimed to confuse submarine commanders regarding a ship's speed, range, and direction, making it harder to calculate an accurate firing solution for their straight-running, unguided torpedoes). Overcome by the tragedy and the blame placed upon him, Captain McVay committed suicide in 1968. . Fast Forward a half century: In 1996, 11-year-old Hunter Scott watched the movie Jaws and became fascinated by the monologue delivered by Captain Quint about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. After learning the story was true, he launched a school history project that eventually led to the official exoneration of the ship's captain, Charles Butler McVay Ill, more than 50 years after the tragedy. Scott's Research and Advocacy For his project at Ransom Middle School in Pensacola, Florida, Scott undertook an exhaustive investigation: He interviewed nearly 150 survivors and reviewed over 800 declassified documents. His research revealed the Navy knew of enemy submarines in the area but failed to inform McVay or provide an escort. He also found that an SOS signal from the ship was ignored because the watch officer on duty had been drinking. Scott's findings eventually reached the U.S. Congress. He testified before lawmakers at age 14, which helped lead to a resolution exonerating McVay. President Bill Clinton signed the resolution to clear McVay's name in October 2000, and the Navy officially amended his record in 2001. . Inspired by his time with the survivors, Scott went on to serve his country, and is currently a Commander and Naval Aviator in the U.S. Navy. He remains active in preserving the ship's legacy, recently speaking at events hosted by the National Naval Aviation museum.