Project 888

USS Indianapolis CA-35

Lost At Sea

Clarence SIMS

Name: Clarence SIMS Rank / Rating: CK2-Ship's Cook Second Class Service #: 296 01 55 DOB: May 07, 1924 From: Henning, Tennessee Parents: Willie James Sims, Irene Sims Went Aboard: 1941 Age When Ship Went Down: 21 years, 2 months, 23 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Dillard and Luise Sims (Brother and Sister-in-law)	SIMS, Clarence

Clarence Sims was born May 7, 1924 in the small town of Henning, Tennessee. The home of Alex Haley's ROOTS. He was the third son of Willie James and Irene Sims. His three brothers served in the military service as well: Arthur Sims US Army 1939-1945 George Sims US Navy 1940-1945 Dillard Sims US Army 1951-1953 Clarence graduated from Palmer-Turner Grammar School in Henning and attended Lauderdale County Training High School in Ripley, Tennessee because we did not have a high school in our small town of Henning.
In 1941 at the age of 17, he wanted to join the Navy to follow his older brother, George, who had joined the Navy in 1940. My father gave his approval that allowed him to enlist (see enclosed) and in July 1941 he was off to basic training at the United States Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. After boot camp he came home on leave while we were still living in Tennessee. That was the first time I saw him in uniform, and he was proud to be a sailor. I was only 12 years old. When he returned back to his base, he was as signed to the USS Indianapolis. I will never forget Sunday, December 7, 1941. We were listening to the radio and heard that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. We knew that Clarence was somewhere in the Pacific but did not know if his ship was in Honolulu or not. Later we found out that the USS Indianapolis was not in port at the time of the attack and that he was O.K. Clarence continued to write our mother frequently to let her know that he was safe but could not tell us where he was or where he had been. In 1942 my father moved from Henning, Tennessee to Rome, New York to make a better life for me and my mother. I followed him in 1943, and my mother came in 1945. The only other time I saw my brother, Clarence, was when in 1945 he came to Rome on leave. He looked fabulous in his uniform, and he was so proud to be in the Navy. I have attached an article of the interview that he gave to a reporter for the Rome Daily Sentinel Newspaper. From the interview you could tell that he was proud of what he had experienced. That was the last time I saw my brother. Clarence had a very outgoing personality and always had a smile. In school he took piano lessons and he loved to sing. He participated in school plays and sang in the school chorus. He had planned to attend the University of Illinois after the war and study engineering. He was my mother's favorite son. She never got over his death. Every time the monthly insurance check came, she would cry and never wanted to cash it. She lived to be 84 and my father lived to be 93. Included is another article that was published in the Rome Daily Sentinel after we received word that Clarence was missing in action. I was only 11 years old when Clarence joined the Navy. I have many fond memories of us growing up in the little town of Henning, Tennessee. I only wished that I could have known him longer


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Clarence SIMS, CK2-Ship's Cook Second Class, was one of 28 African-American men who were members of the Steward Branch, the only division on the ship in which there was not a single survivor. The restricted duties of the Steward Branch were to serve the officers of the ship, including the admiral's and captain's wardrooms, dining areas and sleeping quarters. The services were essential to the smooth and efficient running of Indianapolis. Many of Indianapolis's African-American crew members voluntarily performed duties as gunners' mates, assigned to a specific battle station as one complete unit. More details about the valuable service of these men can be found by reading the book: 'Heroes in the Shadows: The Untold Story of the African American Sailors Aboard USS Indianapolis (CA-35)', by Jane Gwinn Goodall, with contributions from Janice Alston and Arlene Taylor (Henry Jackson, StM1), Jeanette Pitts, M.D. (Albert Rice, StM1), and Jacqueline Dugan and Ernestine Peete (Magellan Williams, StM1).