Sergeant Tony's Blog

In July 1945 a Japanese submarine torpedoed the USS Indianapolis. The ship sunk in less than 12 minutes. Of the 1,196 crew aboard, some 300 men never made it off the ship and disappeared along with her as the ship slipped out of sight just after midnight.

The rest of the crew faced exposure, dehydration and shark attacks as they waited for rescue with no lifeboats. Most of the men were covered with oil and poisonous fuel from the doomed ship. Those 900 men were set adrift with no food and no water as they floated in the water.

Four days and four nights they struggled to stay alive. They were finally rescued, quite by accident, when a Navy plane flew over the place where they drifted in the open sea.

Of those 900 men only 316 survived.

Four days and four nights drifting in shark infested waters with only a shoddy life preserver to keep them afloat. Life vests in 1945 were only good for three days in the water. After that they became waterlogged and worthless.

The survivors told stories of unbelievable agony, depression, despair, and hopelessness as one by one, shipmates and close friends were attacked by sharks or they simply gave in to the hopelessness. Hopelessness claimed as many lives as the sharks.

You might remember the Indianapolis story from “Jaws.” In the movie, the fictional character “Quint” was an Indianapolis survivor and told the story of those men who really lived that experience. While Quint was fictional, the story he told was very real.

To a man, the survivors of the USS Indianapolis said the same thing about their survival. Hope kept them alive. A belief that they would be rescued. A confidence that somehow someway they had to hold on. They kept hope alive.

My experience over the past couple of weeks isn’t anything like the men of the USS Indianapolis. Not even close. But I’ve discovered that hopelessness can come in a variety of ways, in a variety of places, and it visits us all. Everyone of us. Ours may not be the hopelessness of drifting at sea. It may not be the dramatic despair of someone in a life threatening situation. But it is no less real.

Hopelessness can find you in the suburbs or in Central Gardens. Hopelessness can find you in a college dorm or in a VP’s office. Hopelessness can find you in the carpool line or in the unemployment line. Hopelessness makes no distinction of socio-economic status, education, or family connections. Feelings of despondency can find anyone, anywhere, anytime.

The men of the USS Indianapolis who succumbed to their hopelessness simply took their life vests off and slipped into the deep. They believed that it was easier to die than to try and survive.

The survivors of the Indianapolis refused to give up. They refused to give up even in the face of near certain death. They refused to give up even as the sharks attacked all around them. They refused to give up even with the sounds of their shipmate’s screams in their ears. To give in, would mean certain death.

Some took off their life vests and slipped away less than an hour before the Navy plane spotted them.

Encourage those around you! You never know what effect the kind and positive words you speak to others will have on their spirit. If you’re having a tough time, hold on. Worry about things you have no control over will only make things worse. The survivors of the Indianapolis said they couldn’t control the shark attacks so they quit worrying about them. It was out of their control. If it’s out of your hands, out of your control, nothing you can do … worrying about it will only add to your burden and won’t do a single thing to resolve the issue. So let go of that … and hold on.

If you’ve been a reader of this newsletter for a while then you know that I have a great love for the video of REM’s “Everybody Hurts.” I think you ought to watch it every so often … so … here ya go.

As for me and my knee. Well, I’m trying not to go stir crazy. Trying to be patient. Trying not to be depressed. Trying to remember that my recovery is measured in months and not years. Trying to remind myself that there are millions of people who have it worse than me. Way worse. I’m holding on.

I’ve posted a picture of my knee on the website (www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com) on the blog page. It’s password protected to ensure that a casual web surfer doesn’t get creeped out by it. If you’d like to see it, the password is “knee.”

When will I return to the Quarterdeck? I’m hoping to be there on Monday! I’m blessed to have a number of very capable assistants who have stepped in to teach in my absence. I want to thank each of them! Many, many, many thanks go to Richard Bourland, Anne Emmerth, Mike Barta, Taylor Taylor, Andrew Forsdick, Jean Johnston, Teri Trotter, Oscar Adams, David Caffey, and the Princess: Margaret Caffey. Without you guys I’d be worrying about how to keep my business alive, how I’m gonna be able to buy Spam and pimento cheese! I am indebted to you all. From my heart, thank you all very very much! YOU ALL ROCK!!

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BABYSITTER SERVICES!

In my efforts to also be a staffing service, here’s yet another opportunity. Once a week or so I get asked if I know of a good sitter. If you, or someone you know, is a baby sitter, let me know. Send me your contact info and I’ll be happy to pass it on!

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TEAM TERI

As many of you know, our own Teri Trotter is a recent breast cancer survivor. Friends of Teri have established a tribute to Teri. “Teri’s Trotters” tee shirts are available. A portion of all sales will be donated to Race for the Cure in Teri’s name. This will make a perfect shirt to wear while running the race!

Contact Genna Brooke Dattel at Mgdattel@aol.com

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Dr. Alan Shaffer, 0645 Boot Camper sends:

“I sell latisse, a glaucoma drug that has recently been approved for lash growth. I also need some help promoting lasik. I have been performing lasik surgery for 13 years. The Lasik surgery is $1800/eye but I will discount it $200 for boot campers. The Latisse is $99 per bottle. I can have it available at boot camp at the 6:45 class!”

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HALF MARATHON TRAINING THIS SATURDAY!!

Our St. Jude Half Marathon Training continues on Saturday, October 10 at 8 AM! This will be our 11th half marathon training platoon!

We will meet in front of the Visitor’s Center at Shelby Farms!

I have posted the training schedule on the website. The password is “Jude” (case sensitive): http://usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/blog/2009/09/16/2009-st-jude-half-marathon-training-schedule/

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0645 and 0830 CLASSES ARE ACTIVATED!!

The 0645 and 0830, both MWF classes, are back in session!

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TUESDAY & THURSDAY EVENING CLASS

The Tuesday and Thursday evening classes meet at St. Mary’s track. Those classes begin at 5:45 PM. St. Mary’s is at the corner of Walnut Grove and Perkins.

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“When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you’ve had too much of this life, well hang on …”
~ “Everybody Hurts” by REM

To your continued good health and fitness!

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
Memphis, TN
901-644-0145
www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com