USS Indianapolis Lost At Sea

USS Indianapolis CA-35

Lost At Sea

Emil Joseph LAKATOS Jr.

Name: Emil Joseph LAKATOS Jr.

Rank / Rating: MM3-Machinist's Mate Third Class
Service #: 306 45 20
DOB: Oct 13, 1923
From: Manitowoc, WI
Parents: Emil Joseph, Sr and Helen Catherine Herman Lakatos
Went Aboard: Jan 19, 1944
Age When Ship Went Down: 21 years, 9 months, 17 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin)
Date Posted:

LAKATOS, Emil J Jr.

Emil was born in late 1925, in Wisconsin. He was the only child of Emil Joseph, Sr. and Helen Catherine Herman Lakatos who married Nov 11, 1924 in Manitowow, WI. Emil was three and one-half years old when his father died in 1929 in Manitowoc, age 32, due to complications of an unknown illness. On the 1930 and 1940 censuses, Emil and his mother are living with her parents, George and Mary Herman, in Manitowoc. He graduated in the spring of 1942 from Lincoln High School, Manitowoc, WI. His senior yearbook shows a photo of Emil and other classmates, with the caption, "Students who work after school hours at the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. where submarines are built." Also, he was a member of the band for three years.

Emil enlisted in the USN on Aug 12, 1943 at Milwaukee, WI, at age 17. Aug 12th may have been his birthday based upon the marriage date of his parents. On this same day, he was transferred to Great Lakes, IL, for basic training. He began as a AS (Apprentice Seaman) but advanced to F3c (Fireman 3rd class) on Oct 7, 1943. On Oct 21, 1943, he remained at Great Lakes but transferred to another section of the center - the USN Service School where he received additional training as a machinist. While there, Emil was advanced to F2c(MM), (Machinist's Mate). He was received at the Navy barracks, Shoemaker, CA, for general detail on Dec 28, 1943. Shortly after, he was ordered to report for duty on board USS Indianapolis CA-35 for duty. Emil was about to undertake his first sea voyage. He boarded USS Antiqua AF-17 for transport from San Francisco, CA to Pearl Harbor to "catch up" with Indianapolis. He arrived at Pearl Harbor on Jan 17, 1944 and went aboard his new ship on Jan 19, 1944. Admiral Spruance, Commander of Central Pacific, 5th Fleet, came aboard the same day. Indianapolis served as his flag ship. [The Report of Changes notes Emil arrived aboard Indy as a F1c(MM). When he was advanced to this rate is unknown. This rate continues in the ship log until his next advancement] There was little time for Emil to settle into life on board Indy. She left her berth at 1129 that morning. There was excitement that night when the crew was called to "Fire Quarters". Someone had placed oil soaked rags in the crew's head on the main deck aft and a fire ignited. No damage was done. On Jan 27, 1944, Indianapolis joined Task Force 58.2 sailing to the Marshall Islands to take part in "Operation Flintlock", the assault and occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls. Emil was about to witness and take part in his first action in the Pacific. Indianapolis departed TF 58.2 to join Task Unit 53.5.2 on Jan 31, 1944. At 0805 General Quarters (GQ) was sounded in preparation for the bombardment of Roi Island. The guns sounded from 0919 to 1056 and resumed at 1306. When GQ was secured, the men had been at their battle stations for nine hours. Indy had fired 710 rounds from her 8" guns and 1,128 rounds of 5" AA ammunition. The bombardment of Roi continued the next day. The operation was a success and Indy anchored off Kwajalein on Feb 4, 1944. The Marshal Islands campaign continued with the assault and occupation of Eniwetok Atoll before ending in early March. One battle star was awarded for this campaign. This was only the beginning of the action Emil would see. He was present for the assault and occupation of Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai in the Western Carolinas for which Indianapolis was awarded a battle star. The assault on the Marianas earned another star. Then came the capture and occupation of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands, adding another battle star. The capture and occupation of the southern Palau Islands as part of the Western Carolina Islands operation, awarded another battle star. Indianapolis returned to Mare Island, CA on Oct 29, 1944 for overhaul. Emil was likely granted leave after this time. Indy was still at Mare Island on Jan 1, 1945 when Emil was advanced to MM3c(T) (Machinist's Mate 3rd class, Temporary). With more experience, and a spot becoming available, Emil's rating would no longer be temporary. Indy returned to the Pacific, arriving at Pearl Harbor on Jan 20, 1945. She joined Task Force 58 on Feb 14th and took part in the action at Iwo Jima through March 1, 1945, earning a well deserved battle star. In mid-March, Indy took part in the Okinawa Gunto operation and was awarded her last battle star. It was during the operation, March 31, 1945, that Indy sustaining damage from a Japanese kamikaze plane resulting in the deaths of nine crewmembers and injuring 20 others. She was taken out of action and returned to Mare Island, CA, for repairs. Emil had been awarded a total of seven battle stars. No doubt he had many stories to tell his mother, as well as his fiance. He was engaged to Miss Arlene Dunesch of Fond du Lac, WI. The date he proposed is not known. He arrived home on June 8, 1945 on a 22-day leave. With the war winding down, it can only be assumed Emil planned to marry Arlene after his discharge from the Navy. Surely, he reasoned, he would be back home soon. Emil rejoined the ship at Mare Island a little over two weeks before she sailed on July 16th on her top-secret mission to Tinian in the northern Mariana Islands. Emil was lost at sea when Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-58 on July 30, 1945. His shipmate and buddy, Robert Ralph Cavil, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Cavil of West DePere, WI, also lost his life in the tragedy. Emil's 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. A beautiful cenotaph was placed in the Calvary Cemetery in Manitowoc, WI. The flat marble marker contains a photo of Emil. Offer Mass For Emil J. Lakatos "A memorial requiem high mass will be offered at 8 o'clock Wednesay morning, Oct. 31, at St. Boniface church by the Rev. Alfred Pritzl for Emil Joseph Lakatos, machinist's mate third class, USNR., who lost his life as a result of the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis in the early morning hours of last July 30. Lakatos, only son of Mrs. Helen Lakatos, 1020 Madison street, and the late Emil Lakatos, was aboard the ship which was enroute to the Philippines from Guam after a run which set a new speed record from San Francisco, and after delivery of an atomic bomb. She was approximately 450 miles from Leyte when two heavy underwater explosions occurred on the (photo) starboard side. The ship filled rapidly with water through gaping holes in her underwater body caused by the explosion and sank within 15 minutes. The exact manner in which Lakotas met his death is not known, wrote the commanding officer of the ship to Mrs. Lakatos, but it is believed he went down with his ship." Emil was survived, also, by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George J. Herman of this city and his fiance, Miss Arlene Dunisch of Fond du Lac. Young Lakatos was a member of the Holy Name Society of St. Boniface congregation. Note: Not to be confused with Joseph Emil Lakatos, born 10/13/1923, Manitowoc Rapids, WI, son of Joseph and Clara Stradl Lakatos. Married Alice Morris. He died in 1989. His draft card is shown at Ancestry, but the draft card for this Emil Joseph Lakatos, Jr. is not shown at Ancestry or Fold3.

Source Credits

1930 US Census, WI, Manitowoc, Manitowoc Co., Dist 0015. HH #1126. 1940 US Census, WI, Manitowod, Manitowoc Co., Ward 3. HH # 1123. Wisconsin, Manitowoc, Lincoln High School, 1943 Yearbook "Flambeau", p. 9, 63, 93; citing Emil Lakatos. U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949[database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry Operations Inc, 2011. Original data:Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities, 01/01/1939-01/01/1949; A-1 Entry 135, 10230 rolls, ARC ID: 594996. Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Record Group Number 24. National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. Manitowoc Herald Times, Monday, August 13, 1945 p.2; citing the name of Emil's fiance. The Green Bay Press-Gazette, Tues, Aug 14, 1945, p. 17; citing Robert Ralph Cavil and Emil Lakatos MIA. The Stoughton Courier (WI), Fri, Sept 7, 1945, p. 8; citing Emil Lakatos MIA Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. MT-WY; WI, p. 12; citing Emil Joseph Lakatos, s/o Helen Catherine Lakatos. Manitowoc Herald Times, Saturday, October 27, 1945, p. 2; citing mass Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145311583/emil_joseph-lakatos: accessed June 13, 2025), memorial page for Emil Joseph Lakatos Jr. (1925-30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 145311583, citing Calvary Cemetery, Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.

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