USS Indianapolis Lost At Sea

USS Indianapolis CA-35

Lost At Sea

Allen Charles STREICH

Name: Allen Charles STREICH

Rank / Rating: RM2-Radioman Second Class
Service #: 725 56 40
DOB: Nov 22, 1920
From: Mishawaka, IN
Parents: Leo Charles and Mary Wheeler Streich
Went Aboard: Apr 19, 1943
Age When Ship Went Down: 24 years, 8 months, 8 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin)
Date Posted:

Allen Charles STREICH, RM2-Radioman Second Class

STREICH, Allen C

Allen was born Nov 22, 1920, the oldest child of Leo Charles and Mary Wheeler Streich of Mishawaka, St. Joseph, IN. His father was born in Indiana and his mother in Chicago, IL. He had two brothers, Paul and Richard and two sisters, Marjorie Eva and Anna Marie. His maternal grandmother was Mrs. Anna Wheeler of North Judson, IN. The 1940 census shows Allen, 19 years old, living with his family and working as a bookkeeper. Also, his paternal grandmother, Rosa Streich, was living in the home. She was 92 years old, a widow and born in Germany. She had lived in the household for at least five years. Allen attended Beiger school and Mishawaka High School from where he graduated in May 1939. Afterwards, he went to work for the American Foundry Equipment company. He was a member of the East Mishawaka Methodist church.

Allen was 21 years old when he registered for the draft on Feb 16, 1942, in Mishawaka. Feb 16th was the date of the "Third Registration" for Selective Service requiring men age 20-45 to register. He enlisted in the USN on Oct 20, 1942 at the Naval Receiving Station, Chicago, IL. The same day, he was sent to the Naval Training Center at Great Lakes, IL, where he began basic training. His life in the USNR began as a AS (Apprentice Seaman). His hard work paid off and he was advanced to S2c (Seaman 2nd class) on Nov 17, 1942. Allen was selected for further training and was received at Naval Training School, Radio, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. on Dec 3, 1942. At the end of his training on April 6, 1943, he remained a S2c. It was not unusual for most men not to be advanced to Radioman at the end of their schooling. He would receive further training on board a ship or additional schooling at another time. He was transferred to the receiving station in San Francisco, CA, where he arrived April 10, 1943 to await his first duty assignment. At Mare Island, Vallejo, CA, Allen walked up the gangway and went aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35 on April 19, 1943. Indy had returned from duty in the Pacific on March 10th and was in dry dock. Many crewmembers were transferred off and new crewmembers came aboard during this time. Settled on board, Allen would go to sea for the first time when Indy departed Mare Island on May 5, 1943. Due to the number of new crewmembers, Indy conducted training exercises off the coast of CA until the 15th when she departed for the US Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Indy arrived at Kulak Bay, Adak Island on May 23rd where she joined the First Fleet, Task Force 16. The weather in the Pacific and Bering Sea was dreadfully cold and unforgiving. The seas rolled with torrents of rain, high winds, sleet and snow. Sudden strong storms presented a constant threat to the ship and her crew. Allen likely never imagined this is what his first trip to sea would be like. Indy anchored in Kuluk Bay, Adak Island on May 23rd. The weather in the Pacific and Bering Sea was dreadfully cold and unforgiving. The seas rolled with torrents of rain, high winds, sleet and snow. Sudden strong storms presented a constant threat to the ship and her crew. On May 25, 1943 Indianapolis of TG 16.5.16 joined up with TG 16.6, Southern Covering Group (SCG) Operating off Attu. She remained with the TG until the afternoon of the 27th when she joined TG 16.12 in the Northern Covering Area off Attu. She continued service until June 3rd when organized resistance of Attu had been eliminated. She was released from the TG the next day and was ordered to TG 16.12 and continued patrolling the Northern Area until June 29th when she returned to Kuluk Bay. Indy was awarded a battle star for her service in the operation. After Attu was proclaimed secure, the US forces focused their attention on Kiska, the last enemy stronghold in the Aleutians. On Aug 2, 1943, Indianapolis joined the other small ships of a task force and trained her 8-inch guns, destroying shore-based Japanese hideouts and other facilities on Little Kiska Island. As part of TG 16.6.2, on Aug 12th, Indy launched her four planes to serve as spotters shortly before she trained her main battery on Gertrude Cove, Kiska Island. She then trained her 5" battery at Bukti Point on Kiska. This was a lucky day for Allen as there was no return fire and all planes were recovered safely. Indy remained on patrol and in a supportive roll until Aug 25th when she departed for San Francisco and forward to Mare Island, Vallejo, CA for overhaul and refitting. Basically, Allen's feet had not been on land for four months, but he had earned his first battle star. At San Francisco, Allen was advanced to S1c (Seaman 1st class) on Sept 1, 1943. There would be no time for leave or much time ashore. Indy sailed for Pearl Harbor on Sept 7th. She would remain there the next two months conducting training exercises. Allen headed for further battle action when Indy left Pearl Harbor on Nov 10th bound for the Gilbert Islands, Central Pacific, and "Operation Galvanic" against Tarawa and Makin islands. On 19 November 1943, Indianapolis, in a force of cruisers bombarded Tarawa and next day pounded Makin. The ship then returned to Tarawa and acted as a fire-support ship for the landings. That day her guns splashed an enemy plane and shelled enemy strong points as valiant landing parties struggled against fanatical Japanese defenders in an extremely bloody and costly battle. She continued this role until the leveled island was declared secure 3 days later. [DANFS] Indianapolis returned to Pearl Harbor on Dec 11, 1943. 366 enlisted men and 52 officers disembarked to remain at Pearl until Indy returned. Allen was not one of the lucky men. She took aboard 698 passengers and steamed for San Francisco where she arrived on Dec 18 and disembarked her passengers before heading to Mare Island, CA. Allen would spend Christmas on the ship. At the time, Indy was the only large ship moored at Mare Island. The crewmembers "dressed" Indy for Christmas. Multi-colored lights were strung along the rigging. A large "Merry Christmas" banner awaited everyone who walked the gangway and a large lighted tree was erected on the quarterdeck. These little touches of home surely helped ease Allen's heart aching desire to be home with his family. Most men were granted at least a few hours of leave on Dec 31st. It would be their last for quite a while. The realities of war could no longer be set aside. It was time to return to the war zone. Indy departed Mare Island on New Year's Day for San Francisco. She stayed only long enough to embark officers and passengers for transport to Pearl Harbor where she arrived on Jan 7th. Allen welcomed his shipmates who had remained at Pearl back aboard. She departed the harbor bound for the Marshall Islands to aid in the actions against Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls in late January. Feb 1, 1944, was a proud day for Allen. He was advanced to RM3c (Radioman 3rd class), one day before Indy entered Kwajalein lagoon where she remained until the area was secured. Her service ended in the Marshalls after supporting the occupation at Eniwetok. Steaming to the Western Carolinas, Indy took part in the raids on Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai. On April 10th she left Majuro for Pearl Harbor and on April 22nd she arrived back in San Francisco, CA. Allen was not likely granted furlough because Indy would be in port only eight days before steaming back to Pearl Harbor, May 1st. When Indy returned to the Pacific in early June, the Central Pacific Force in which she formerly served was now designated the Pacific 5th Fleet and continued under the command of now Admiral Spruance. This would be a period of brutal service for Allen. From June to Sept 29, 1944, Indy took part in the capture and occupation of Saipan, Battle of the Philippine Sea, the capture and occupation of Guam, the capture and occupation of Tinian in the Northern Marianas Islands and on to the Western Caroline Islands operation for the capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands. Allen arrived back at Mare Island, CA on Oct 19, 1944 where Indy underwent overhaul following her long Pacific service. He would spend Christmas and the beginning of the new year on dry ground and likely was granted leave before Indy departed on Jan 3, 1945 for San Francisco, then San Diego and forward to Pearl Harbor. On Jan 20th, Adm. Spruance came back aboard. Allen arrived with his ship on Feb 1, 1945 at Ulithi Atoll, two weeks before she made her first attack on Tokyo on Feb 15th. Throughout the action, Indianapolis played her vital role of support ship. She sailed on to Iwo Jima where action began on the 19th. Indianapolis did her share of the bombardment of the island where Japanese soldiers hid in and attacked US forces from subterranean tunnels. She moved back to Tokyo to Honshu and Nansei Shoto for more bombardment of the islands and remained until the operation ended on Mar 1st. There was further cause for celebration that last day when Allen was advanced to RM2c. The pre-invasion bombardment of Okinawa began Mar 24th and for 7 days Indianapolis bombarded beach defenses. Enemy aircraft filled the sky attacking the ships. Indy shot down six planes and assisted in splashing two others. Indianapolis had escaped damage, but her luck was coming to an end. On 31 March, the day before the invasion, the ship was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane. Nine men were killed and 20 injured. Allen witnessed his first Naval burial service for the much beloved ship's Bugler, Earl P. Procai on March 31st. He would stand on the quarterdeck two more times as services were held for the eight other shipmates who were killed. He would watch as their flag-draped boxes were carried off the ship for burial on a tiny remote Keramo Retto island. Indy limped back to Mare Island, CA, for repairs and refitting, where she would remain for two-and-a-half months. Most assuredly, Allen was granted leave to visit his family. Since boarding, Allen had earned the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with 1 silver star, representing 5 bronze stars, and 4 bronze stars to represent the 9 battle stars awarded to Indianapolis. At Mare Island, Allen and his shipmates prepared for a top-secret delivery to the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. No one on board knew the contents of their cargo when they departed on July 16, 1945. After the delivery, Indianapolis departed Tinian and after a short stop at Apra Habor, Guam, she sailed for Leyte, her final destination. Half-way there, on July 30, 1945, Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Whether Allen made it off the ship and into the water is not known. Allen was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. A beautiful bronze cenotaph was placed in Fairview Cemetery in Mishawaka, where his parents are now buried. Another Mishawakan, Homer Leroy Smith, F2c, was lost at sea in the sinking.

Source Credits

Indiana State Board of Health, Certificate of Birth, # 60700, Regt. No. 399; citing parents Leo Charles Streich and Mary E. Wheeler 1940 US Census, IN, St. Joseph, Mishawaka. Enumerated April 19th. HH #1640, Homewood Street; citing the family of Leo C. Streich The South Bend Tribune, (IN), Thur, May 25, 1939, p. 22; citing high school graduation The South Bend Tribute, (IN), Sun, Oct 28, 1945, p. 31; citing Streich KIA Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; IN, p. 19; citing parents Mr and Mrs Leo Charles Streich. USN WWII Muster Rolls, 1938-1949; Ancestry database USN Ships, Stations and Other Naval Activities, 1939-1949; Ancestry database USN WWII , USS Indianapolis, War Diary and Actions Reports; Fold3 database

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