879 heroes aboard the Indy were killed in action and lost at sea on July 30, 1945. It was the greatest loss of life from a combatant ship during World War ll.
Families of those heroes lost at sea, and survivor family members, will be gathering on Sunday morning July 30 at our USS Indianapolis CA-35Memorial located at 692 Ellsworth street by the canal. The 8th Annual Honor Watch will begin at sunrise. We will stand down late in the afternoon.
There will be USS Indianapolis historical items on view including: photos, black and white and color videos of a lost at sea hero, Western Union MIA telegram, Navy MIA telex, Captain McVay handwritten note to the Navy father whose son was lost at sea, Secretary of the Navy James Forestal letter confirming that a Indy crewman was officially lost at sea, and a Purple Heart presented to a lost at sea family, ship models, and other historical family heirlooms honoring the USS Indianapolis and her final sailing crew.
*Ceremony honoring Indy’s Lost At Sea Hoosier Heroes Sunday at our CA-35 Memorial.
EVENT: Time: 10:00 am 🕙
Earl Procai, Bugler Second Class, was one of nine USS Indianapolis crew members killed in action on March 31, 1945., when a kamikaze hit the Indy just prior to the Okinawa Gunto Campaign. The 48-star 78-year-old American flag, that was flown over the USS Indianapolis and presented to Earl Procai’s family, will be raised and flown over our CA-35Memorial.
Harold Bray is our last USS Indianapolis living survivor. Kunshirou Kiyozumi, crew member of the I-58, the Japanese submarine which sank the Indy, is the last living survivor. Mr. Bray wrote a letter of peace to Mr. Kiyozumi. Several USS Indianapolis lost at sea family members, and a survivor family member wrote letters to Mr. Kiyozumi as well, including the granddaughter of the captain of the l-58. These letters, including Mr. Kiyozumi’s replies, will be read at our ceremony, including sharing the journey of presenting Mr. Bray’s letter personally to Mr. Kiyozumi in Japan.
Mike Clark, President of the Indianapolis Rolling Thunder Chapter 1, and fellow members, will be performing a Honor and Remembrance Ceremony for the 31 USS Indianapolis Hoosier Heroes who were lost at sea. Family members of these Hoosier Heroes will be in attendance.
We are extremely grateful for your support during the past seven years. Please join us to remind the residents of Indianapolis, and the great state of Indiana, that 879 brave heroes paid the ultimate sacrifice for the precious freedoms we cherish today.
Our USS Indianapolis family members are available to answer questions by phone, in person at our CA-35 Memorial, at our museum at the Indiana War Memorial, or in your studio.
To be remembered is to live forever. ⚓️ 🇺🇸