Project 888
Name: Chester Lee BRIGHT
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second ClassService #: 339 06 89 DOB: May 18, 1927 From: Pattonville, MO Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Bright Went Aboard: May 12, 1945 Age When Ship Went Down: 18 years, 2 months, 12 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Sister: Carol Mehlen |
 BRIGHT, Chester L |
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I am enclosing a picture of my brother, Chester Lee Bright S2C. I was only ten years old when he was "lost at sea" and given sea burial. He was only 18 years old and in the navy only six months. He was NOT even suppose to be on the Indianapolis. The navy told my Father, Chester would not go on any ships so my Father signed the papers for him to go in the navy. My Father ended up having a nervous break down, blaming himself.
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| My other brother was in six major battles. I thank God that he came home safely. I put an ad in "The Good Ole Days" magazine, asking if anyone knew my brother. I received several letters of mail from some of the survivors but no one knew him. I am 72 years old but still think about Chester and how he had to die. I still would like to come to Indiana to the reunions and see the museum. I do hope you get a wonderful response about the book and some pictures. I sure would like to have one. Good Luck. Dear Mrs. Murphy, I know that my Aunt (Carol Mehlen Nee Bright) has already contacted you about my Uncle, S2C Chester Lee Bright, lost in the sinking of the Indianapolis, but I wanted to tell you about a little known but unique aspect of his story. I never knew my uncle, as I was born in 1947, but my grandparents and mv Dad (my Uncle's brother) told me many stories about him. One of the most unusual stories was about the day he left to board The Indianapolis. My grandfather and he were about to leave in my grandfather's car for Union Station where my Uncle was to board a train for San Francisco, and go aboard the ship as a replacement. Just as they were getting into,, the car, my Uncle (who was just 17 years old) hesitated, and told my grandfather that he wanted to take a long look at Pattonville (now Bridgeton) because he would never see it again. In short, my Uncle had a premonition that he would never return, but left and did his duty for us and country. To me, that is a true hero, what our family has always considered him to be. Thank you, Larry Lee Bright. Burial at Sea Chester was one of the ten crew members picked up and identified by USS Cecil J. Doyle. He was located at 1717 hours at 11 degrees 27 minutes North Latitude and 132 degrees 32 minuets East Longitude on Monday August 6, 1945. Chester 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. | |
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