Cleveland, Niles sailors declared ‘buried at sea’ in 1945 sinking of USS Indianapolis during World War II

CLEVELAND — Sailors from Cleveland and Niles who have been listed as “unaccounted for” when the USS Indianapolis was sunk within the closing weeks of World Struggle II have now been classifed as “buried at sea” by the US Navy. 

Seaman 2nd Class Albert Raymond Kelly from Cleveland and Ship’s Service Man Laundryman third Class Angelo Anthony Sudano of Niles have been two of 13 sailors from the USS Indianapolis lately found to have been given Navy committal ceremonies 77 years in the past. In response, the Navy modified their standing from “unaccounted for” to “buried at sea.” 

Two Japanese torpedoes hit the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945, when the heavy cruiser was on its approach to the Philippines from Guam. The Indianapolis had simply delivered components of the atomic bomb that might be dropped on Japan a month later.

The ship sank in simply 12 to fifteen minutes. The Navy estimates about 300 sailors have been trapped inside and went down with the vessel.

The remaining 800 sailors deserted ship, however rescue vessels did not arrive for 4 days. Tons of of sailors died within the interim from accidents, dehydration and shark assaults. Solely 316 survived. It is often called one of many largest tragedies in U.S. naval historical past.

Rick Stone, retired chief naval historian a the Naval Historical past and Heritage Command, mentioned researchers discovered the names of the 13 sailors in deck logs, commanders’ stories and struggle diaries stored by the seven ships that recovered our bodies.

These ships gave sea burials to 91 recognized males, however for unknown causes the names of solely 40 of them have been reported by the navy. One other 51 names weren’t. The 13 newly recognized come from this latter group. Stone mentioned researchers have open circumstances on the remaining 38 and have “good clues” for the identities of 5.

Stone suspects the names fell via bureaucratic cracks and have been by no means adopted up on.

It did not assist that the Navy introduced the lack of the ship on the identical day the struggle ended.

“The sinking of the Indy, which might have been entrance web page information every week earlier, was type of relegated to one of many midsections of the newspaper,” he mentioned.

Researchers with Stone’s non-public basis started in search of the data in January 2021. Stone mentioned he began a file on the Indianapolis whereas working on the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Company and seeing hints that some sailors listed as lacking had really been discovered.

“Giving their family members and their households some type of closure — I imply frankly and in all sincerity — it’s the best reward I can think about,” Stone mentioned.

Stone’s group, Chief Rick Stone and Household Charitable Basis labored with the Naval Historical past and Heritage Command, the Navy Casualty Workplace, the USS Indianapolis Survivors Affiliation and the USS Indianapolis Legacy Group to search out their names.

Capt. Robert McMahon, director of the Navy Casualty Workplace, mentioned bringing closure to households of these misplaced at sea is a “solemn obligation and obligation” he takes to coronary heart.

“Nothing is extra essential to me than giving households that data when the unthinkable occurs,” he mentioned. “No period of time lessens the loss, nonetheless, if we are able to convey some certainty to family members, even seven many years later, we’re protecting religion with these we misplaced.”