USS Indianapolis survivors to reunite again

Survivors of the USS Indianapolis disaster will reunite in Indianapolis July 24 to 27 for the 69th anniversary reunion. An estimated 13 of the three dozen remaining survivors will attend the reunion, along with Lost At Sea family members, survivor family members and rescuers.

There will be education programs open to the public including survivor Edgar Harrell’s presentation, “Out of the Depths-A Survivors Story,” July 25 at 7 p.m. Kim Neilson- Roller will present “Remembering the USS Indianapolis” at 1:30 p.m. July 26. All events will be downtown Indianapolis at the Hyatt Regency, One South Capitol Avenue.

A Japanese sub torpedoed the USS Indianapolis a few minutes past midnight on July 30, 1945, which led to the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy. The Indianapolis had just delivered critical parts for the first atomic bomb to be used in combat. Of the 1,197 crewmen aboard, approximately 300 went down with the ship.

Only 317 survived the next four days in the shark-infested and oil-slicked waters. In the disaster’s aftermath, Capt. Charles McVay was court-martialed by the Navy for negligence. For years, survivors and others - including The American Legion - fought to set the record straight and exonerate McVay, who committed suicide in November 1968. His exoneration came decades later, thanks to Hunter Scott, a curious 11-year-old boy whose determination helped set the record straight.

The public is invited to attend a solemn memorial service at 9 a.m. July 27, which will conclude the reunion. This service will also be at the Hyatt Regency.

For more information, visit the reunion website: www.ussindyreunion.com.