YOKOSUKA, Japan - When the submarine USS Ohio surfaced at sea and Machinist Mate First Class Jason Witty emerged from the hatch to look around, he saw calm, blue water under a peaceful sky - perfect for the solemn task he was about to perform.
On the map, the Ohio was afloat in just another indistinguishable expanse of the Pacific Ocean. As Witty stood on deck holding a silver pitcher, the vessel was alone.
Just like the ill-fated USS Indianapolis, 63 years earlier.
The pitcher contained the ashes of Witty's grandfather, Boatswain Mate Second Class Eugene Morgan, who had survived the sinking of the Indianapolis - one of the worst tragedies for the US Navy in World War II.
Morgan had died of a heart attack in June at age 87, just before Witty went to sea, and among his last wishes was the desire to be rejoined with his shipmates at roughly the same spot in the Pacific where the Indianapolis went down.
Witty, sitting in a wardroom of the Ohio at this Japanese port, recounted the Oct. 2 burial at sea, saying he had never participated in one before.
He had sheepishly asked one of the officers if his grandfather's wish could be granted. The request went up the chain of command to Captain Dennis Carpenter, who quickly approved.
"I thought it would be an honor," Carpenter said. "And I wanted to make sure that we did it right. Sometimes on a submarine at sea, you just can't go topside. But everything seemed to be on our side."
In July 1945, the Indianapolis had just completed a secret mission to the tiny island of Tinian, carrying components for a new weapon - the atomic bomb. It would later be dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in the world's first nuclear attack.
Because of its cargo, the Indianapolis had sailed to Tinian unescorted. Then, with that mission done, the cruiser was making its way back to Leyte, in the Philippines, with a crew of 1,196 aboard, including Eugene Morgan. Early on July 30, when the ship was still near the Marianas Islands, a Japanese I-58 submarine found the Indianapolis and launched six torpedoes, two ripping through its starboard side.
It took only 12 minutes for the Indianapolis to sink in the deadliest disaster at sea in US naval history. Morgan was asleep when the ship exploded into chaos.
"He was in his skivvies," Witty said. "He was tossed from his rack. There were fires. He got topside and the boat started to capsize." Morgan jumped off the port side of the ship and slid down into the black sea.
"At some point, he found some food floating on the surface and swam toward it," Witty said. "But on the way, he was attacked by a shark."
It swam away before going in for the kill. For the rest of his life, Morgan carried scars on his backside from the attack.