USS Indianapolis CA-35
Lost At Sea

Name: Ralph Arthur PRIESTLE
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second Class
Service #: 948 43 52
DOB: Sep 10, 1925
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Parents:
Went Aboard: May 7, 1944
Age When Ship Went Down: 19 years, 10 months, 20 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Admin
Date Posted: Jul 30, 2025

Seaman Second Class Priestle was born Sept. 10, 1925, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He entered into the service February 25, 1944, and went to boot camp at USNTC (United States Naval Training Center), Great Lakes, Illinois.

He served on USS Indianapolis when it was hit by a suicide plane on March 31, 1945, in Okinawa. He returned to the ship after it was repaired and went down with the ship when it was sunk by enemy action on July 30, 1945. Ralph and his first cousin, Paul J. Gottman, S 2/c, entered service together, served together and were lost at sea together. See below to review a Cincinnati Enquirer Newspaper Article ("Eight Seamen Declared Dead; With Crew Of Indianapolis; Fate of Ninth Undisclosed"). The article provides more information about Ralph, Paul and seven additional men who were all from Hamilton County and Lost at Sea with the sinking of USS Indianapolis CA-35 on July 30, 1945. Albert Koegler William Koegler Paul J. Gottmann Edward G. Halloran Paul J. Mauntel Joseph W. Long Jerome C. Neuman Ralph J. Helscher