USS Indianapolis July 30-31 1945 IN MEMORY

[Parche]

USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class cruiser of the United States Navy. She holds a place in history due to the circumstances of her sinking, which led to the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy.

On 30 July 1945, shortly after delivering critical parts for the first atomic bomb to be used in combat to the United States air base at Tinian, the ship was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58, sinking in 12 minutes. Of 1,196 crew aboard, approximately 300 went down with the ship. The remaining crew of 880 faced exposure, dehydration and shark attacks as they waited for assistance while floating with few lifeboats and almost no food or water. The Navy learned of the sinking when survivors were spotted four days later by the crew of a PV-1 Ventura on routine patrol. Only 317 sailors survived.<2> Indianapolis was one of the last U.S. Navy ships sunk by enemy action in World War II.
:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:

[hfojvt]

1. a fairly close relative of mine was on that ship

Archie Clinton Kilgore, a 2nd cousin, twice removed, born 1916, died 30 July 1945. :patriot:

[tuckessee]

2. A terrible tragedy.

What was also shameless was how the military tried to scapegoat Capt. McVey in a court martial trial many years after the fact.

On the subject of US sailors drifting abandoned and forgotten in Pacific waters while being eaten by sharks and going crazy from thirst, hunger & sunstroke let's not forget the USS Juneau (w/the five Sullivan brothers) and the Vireo & Meredith, both incidences occurring in the waters around Guadalcanal, 1942. There's also the destroyer Jarvis which certainly had survivors in the water but since none were ever found we'll never know what really happened.

No book has been written about the Vireo & Meredith but there is a good book about the Juneau titled Left to Die (I believe the author's name is Kurtzman).

[LostinVA]

5. Completely agree about the scapegoating of McVey

Disgusting.

[LostinVA]

3. The shark attacks were horrible

That part in 'Jaws" wasn't dramatic license.

[IndianaGreen]

4. I met one of the survivors last night at the Bourbon Street Distillery on Indiana Avenue

He was very old, but strong enough to order a drink with his dinner. He sat alone. I shook his hand. He was not happy with the way the monument had been tampered with.

[Contrary1]

6. My neighbor helped finish the 17 foot long model of the ship...

It was interesting to watch these guys work on the model. There was clearly much love and respect for those who were on the ship. There are two pictures on the right at the link, but they don't begin to show all the detail.

Willing hands bring veteran's dream to completion in model of USS Indianapolis

"When a Hendricks County Navy veteran died unexpectedly a few years ago, it seemed his dream of building a model of the USS Indianapolis would go unfulfilled.

But after two attempts and a lot of work, a model almost as big as a minivan is shipshape and in need of a home port.

The model accurately depicts the famous cruiser, sunk in the closing days of World War II in one of the U.S. Navy’s darkest moments. Most of the crew survived the blast of a Japanese torpedo, only to perish in the open water awaiting rescue. Of more than 1,200 sailors and Marines aboard, only about 300 would survive sharks, thirst and the elements.

Like the statue unveiled last week in City Market — of Jim O’Donnell, the only Indianapolis resident who survived the attack in 1945 — the model begun by Larry Sharpes serves as a reminder of service members’ sacrifice..."

http://www.indy.com/posts/95990

[tuckessee]

7. kick for history buffs

[DainBramaged]

8. BROWN, Edward J., S1, Father of the wife of a close close friend

Signed In Harm's Way for me a couple of years ago. Did not seem bitter, and always wondered why he survived and not so many others.