ABOUT US
Project 888
THE STORIES OF LOST-AT-SEA & KIA CREW MEMBERS OF
USS INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35)
Welcome to the Project 888 website.
The concept of creating a website which would be dedicated to honor and memorialize 888 men who were Lost at Sea (LAS) in 1945 was proposed by a dedicated team of members of USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Legacy Organization's Education Committee.
The 888 men who were Lost at Sea (LAS) in 1945 includes 9 sailors who died onboard Indianapolis on March 31st as the result of a kamikaze plane attack at Okinawa and 879 men who died as a result of the July 30th sinking of the ship.
Over multiple years, electronic records (photos, biographies, obituaries, newspaper articles, etc.) were collected and archived. These records were used as the integral foundation for this commemorative website.
By clicking or tapping on and opening Project 888's Menu Option Bar (In the upper
right hand corner icon
),
you will have the opportunity to select from multiple
options that will provide access to detailed information about the ship and its
storied LAS crew:
We encourage your exploration of the Project 888 website by recommending that you first access the Project 888 Historical Details. The articles and stories in this section will walk you through the trauma that LAS families (mothers/fathers, wives, children, siblings) and friends experienced when they received multiple telegrams about the tragedy that had taken the life of their loved one. You will learn about chronological events that led up to the tragedy, the recovery of bodies, burials at sea, letters sent from bereaved LAS family members to Captain McVay, his challenge in responding to unanswerable questions, factual information about sharks and finally an article describing the "Cost of War".
Clicking on the next sequential Menu Option: View Crew Bios you will be directed to a listing of the names of all 888 LAS men. Then, by clicking individually on your choice of any LAS crew member, you will have the opportunity to review his individual Bio.
Years of research by a team of dedicated volunteers has generated a wealth of information (statistics, pictures, biographical text, letters, telegrams, etc.). While the website does have Bios for ALL 888 LAS, we have assigned each individual Bio into one of Three Levels of presentation. The three levels are color coded with Red, White and Blue markers which categorize them based on the quantity and availability of research information. What follows is a description of each of the three levels:
LEVEL 1 BIOs contain a limited
amount of information that to date has been found about a given LAS Crewmember.
A Level 1 Bio displays basic statistical information such as the crewmember's Full
Name, Rank/Rating, Service Number, Date of Birth, Residency Town and State,
Date that the Crewmember boarded USS Indianapolis and his Age when the ship
went down. At a minimum, each of these Bios will contain a photo of a Purple Heart
(which all 888 men received posthumously) and often, if available, an individual
photo of the LAS crewmember.
LEVEL 2 BIOs also contain first level
basic statistical information, but they also include additional information like:
Pre-Enlistment Employer name and address, Age at the time of Registration,
Parent(s) name, Spouse name, Child and Grandchild names. This additional
information was typically procured from either the crew member's Draft Card
(aka Registration Card) and/or an Obituary. Not all crew members had a
Draft Card, but, if found by a researcher, a copy has been downloaded to this Bio.
An obituary (and/or a memorial clipping from a hometown newspaper) may also be included in a
Level 2 Bio.
LEVEL 3 BIOs contain LEVEL 1 and/or LEVEL 2 information,
but also (and most importantly) includes information that provides more insight
into the life and family of the LAS crew member. Bio Text that is typically
submitted by family and friends provides background information such as the
crew member's childhood, schooling, marriage, hobbies and life experiences.
The Level 3 Bios typically contain multiple photos that have been submitted and
uploaded by family (Children, Grandchildren, Siblings, Nieces, Nephews and Cousins)
and family friends.
Regardless of which Level a given LAS crew member has been assigned, there remains an "Open Door" provided for Project 888 website visitors to upload photos and biographical stories to enhance and further expand on the presentation. It is through the generosity of family and friends that a given Bio can be expanded and will move a Level 1 or 2 Bio up to a Level 3. Our Project 888 website administrators strongly invite and encourage visitors to submit information that will enhance and upgrade all Bios.
Your review of individual Bios is a way for you to learn about and honor our Indianapolis LAS crew.
Thank You Very Much for taking the time to visit our website and commemorate the sacrifices made by each one of these heroes!
Please check back often as our USS Indianapolis LAS Bios are updated frequently!
Project 888