Rank / Rating: S1-Seaman First Class
William Alexander Haynes, S1-Seaman First Class was one of the 879 crew members of USS Indianapolis CA35 who were "lost at sea" in the sinking of the ship on July 30, 1945.
After 316 survivors were rescued, the effort turned into a recovery mission of the deceased crew members in the water. Six ships recovered 91 bodies that were examined and many were identified. All bodies were given a "Burial at Sea".
Due to an administrative error, at least 13 of the men who were identified and buried at sea never had this information recorded in his official personnel file, therefore he continued to be officially noted as "Unaccounted For" by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).
In 2021, Chief Rick Stone, through his Stone Family Foundation, conducted extensive research of these 13 crew members. His tremendous efforts lead to evidence that confirmed beyond a reasonable doubt, required by statute, that the crew member's name should be moved from the "Unaccounted For" to the "Accounted For" list with a notation that he was Buried at Sea to give the families some degree of closure for their loved one.
The Commander of the Navy Personnel Command directed the Navy Casualty Office to personally inform the families of the 13 crew members of this discovery and the change made in the official records.
The 13 men who by clear and convincing evidence gathered at the time of the Rescue and Recovery process resulted in their being “Buried at Sea” are:
George Stanley Abbott, S1- Seaman First Class
Eugene Clifford Batson, S2- Seaman Second Class
William Alexander Haynes, S1- Seaman First Class
Albert Raymond Kelly, S2- Seaman Second Class
Albert Davis Lundgren, S1- Seaman First Class
Ollie McHone, F1- Fireman First Class
George David Payne, S2- Seaman Second Class
Alvin Wilder Rahn, SK3- Storekeeper Third Class
Jose Antonio Saenz, SC3- Ship’s Cook Third Class
Joseph Mason Strain, S2- Seaman Second Class
Angelo Anthony Sudano, SSML3- Ship’s Service Man (Laundryman) Third Class
Floyd Ralph Wolfe, GM3- Gunner’s Mate Third Class
Charles Byrd Sparks, COX- Coxswain
Burial at Sea
William was one of the ten crew members picked up and identified by USS Cecil J. Doyle. He was located at 1128 hours at 11 degrees 26 minutes North Latitude and 132 degrees 28 minuets East Longitude on Monday August 6, 1945.
William 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.
