Authors Sara Vladic and Lynn Vincent visit Sunnyside High school to speak about their New York Times best-selling book, USS Indianapolis, Nov. 1. Joining approximately 150 students from Fresno Unified,  Fresno Christian APUSH students attend with their instructor Kori Friesen to learn more from the ‘Author Talk.’

Just 33 days before the end of the Second World War, America lost a 1,195-crew ship in the Philippine Sea. The sinking of USS Indianapolis remains the greatest naval disaster in US history.

Nearly 50 years after it was sunk by a Japanese submarine, filmmaker and author Sara Vladic began to wonder what else the story of USS Indianapolis held.

In 2001, Vladic decided to learn about the sinking of USS Indianapolis from the men who actually survived it. She attended survivor reunions, eventually interviewing 107 veterans.

Meanwhile, Lynn Vincent, author of best-selling works such as Heaven Is For Real and Same Kind of Different as Me, was praying for a new story to write. She says Vladic’s request to collaborate on a book about USS Indianapolis was the answer to her prayers.

As Vincent and Vladic scoured libraries and archives, a larger story began to unfold. Their teamwork came together and they wrote their best-selling book, USS Indianapolis.

The video below highlights the event and students who attended, Nov. 1.

For the full article, visit Authors of “Indianapolis” speak about unique WWII story, Nov. 1

The author can be reached via email: Austin Petersen, Instagram and Twitter.