Name: Orval D. CRITES Rank / Rating: WT1-Water Tender First Class Service #: 378 08 73 DOB: Aug 12, 1923 From: Hennessey, OK Parents: Went Aboard: Apr 30, 1943 Age When Ship Went Down: 21 years, 11 months, 18 days Spouse: Louise (Davis) Crites Children: Orval Dalle Crites Grandchildren: Tracey and Aaron Bio Submitted By: Admin Date Posted: Mar 06, 2026
CRITES, Orval D
Water Tender First Class Crites was born on August 12, 1923, in Hennessey, Oklahoma and moved to Delhi, California in 1929.
He attended Livingston High School, where he met Louise Davis and later married her in 1942.
He joined the Navy in December 1942 and completed Boot Training in Farragut, ID.
He boarded USS Indianapolis at Mare Island while the ship was being repaired before its last journey with the A-bomb.**
His wife, Louise Crites Olivero, moved to Merced, California. His only son, Orval Dalle Crites, and family later resided in San Jose, CA.
He would no doubt have been very proud of his son and two grandchildren, Tracey and Aaron.
** Orval went aboard Indianapolis on April 30, 1943 as recorded in the ship logs.
Patricia Stephens (Admin)
Source Credits
USS Indianapolis CA-35 Crew Members Association, (1997), USS Indianapolis (CA-35), Turner Publishing Co., Paducah, KY. Copyright 1997 by Turner Publishing Co. Reprinted with permission.
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Rank / Rating: WT1-Water Tender First Class
