USS Indianapolis CA-35
Lost At Sea James McLaurin HARRISON Mac

Name: James McLaurin HARRISON Mac
Rank / Rating: S1-Seaman First Class
Service #: 843 88 69
DOB: Mar 07, 1927
From: Dulfee, MS
Parents: Marion B. Harrison and Fannie Eula Williamson Harrison
Went Aboard: Oct 08, 1943
Age When Ship Went Down: 18 years, 4 months, 23 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: IWM Facebook Bio 2015 with supplemental submissions from Sherry Adkins (Niece)
Date Posted: Aug 01, 2026

Seaman First Class James "Mac" Harrison was born March 7, 1925, to Marion B. Harrison and Fannie Eula Williamson Harrison living in Duffee, Newton County, Mississippi. His parents are buried in the Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, Duffee, Mississippi.

Mac enlisted in the Navy July 3, 1943, and completed basic training at the Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, IL. His first and only duty assignment was on boarded USS Indianapolis CA-34. He walked the gangway and was granted permission to come aboard on October 8, 1943. "Mac", as he was known to his family, had just turned 20 on March 7, 1945, before the sinking of Indianapolis. Years after the sinking, his family attended an Indianapolis Survivors Reunion asking survivors if they remembered "Mac" from the ship. One replied that he did and that his nickname on the ship was "Mississippi" after where he lived. Supplementing the photo which is posted in the upper right hand corner of this bio, Mac's niece, Sherry Adkins submitted four additional photos to enhance this bio: 1. Memorial Day remembrance photo 2. Back and White sepia photo 3. Mac with his 8 siblings 4. Memorial Gravestone honoring Mac In addition to her submission of the above 4 photos, Sherry shared that Mac was the fifth of nine children and had two brothers: Rudolph (Uncle Rudy) and Duvert (Uncle Dub). She also shared that the photo of Mac with his 8 siblings, below, was the very last time that Mac was with them.