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Project 888

USS Indianapolis CA-35

Lost At Sea

Forest Maylon GAITHER
Name: Forest Maylon GAITHER
Project 888 Rank / Rating: FC2-Fire Controlman Second Class
Service #: 627 12 23
DOB: Jan 15, 1922
From: Bridgeport, IL
Parents: Mr and Mrs Ben Gaither
Went Aboard: Nov 8, 1943
Age When Ship Went Down: 23 years, 6 months, 15 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Additions by Patricia Stephens (Admin)

Forest Maylon GAITHER, FC2-Fire Controlman Second Class

GAITHER, Forest M
Fire Controlman Second Class Gaither was born January 15, 1922 in Bridgeport, IL. He entered into the Navy September 16, 1942 and completed boot camp at USNTC (United States Naval Training Center), Great Lakes, Illinois. He also had training at Quantico, Virginia and ordinance school repair dept, New Port, Rhode Island, FC School (trained on M-5 director).
Forest went aboard USS Indianapolis Nov 8, 1943 and was on the ship until it sank. He was involved in eight campaigns Indianapolis took part in during that time. Like most Lost At Sea family members, Forest’s mother and father went to their grave not knowing what really happened to him. At the 50th reunion, his brother-in-law saw in the USS Doyle logbook that Forest was buried at sea with 20 others. His family was not advised if he was alive or not when the Doyle picked him up. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. He was entitled to wear the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with one silver and three bronze star devices. Burial at Sea Forest was one of the ten crew members picked up and identified by USS Cecil J. Doyle. He was located at 1058 hours at 11 degrees 25 minutes North Latitude and 132 degrees 28 minuets East Longitude on Monday August 6, 1945. Forest was "committed to the deep" in the official Burial at Sea Ceremony performed by the Commanding Officer on August 7, 1945, at 11 degrees 13 minutes North Latitude and 132 degrees 24 minutes East Longitude. Source: USS Indianapolis CA-35 Muster Roll dated July 1, 1945; citing date aboard as 11/8/43 The Vincennes Sun-Commercial, (IN), Fri, Aug 17, 1945, p. 1

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