USS Indianapolis CA-35
Ollie Mchone - Lost At Sea

Name: Ollie Mchone
Rank / Rating: F1-Fireman First Class
Service #: 630 97 17
DOB: Mar 30, 1912
From: Prairie Grove, AR
Parents: James Bunyan and Ora Ruark McHone
Went Aboard: Apr 29, 1943
Age When Ship Went Down: 33 years, 4 months, 0 days
Spouse: Virgie
Children: See Detailed Listing in Bio Below
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Carl Fahnestock and Patricia Stephens - Admins
Bio Last Updated: Oct 01, 2026

Ollie was the son of James Bunyan and Ora Ruark McHone. James registered for the WWI (ONE) draft in Walnut, Crawford Co., KS, on Sep 12, 1915 at age 33. He listed his nearest relative - Ora, wife. James died May 11, 1935 in Linn Co., KS, and Ora died July 29, 1925 at only 28 years old. By 1930, Ollie's father had remarried a widow with one son. 1930 US Census, KS, Linn Co., Centerville Twsp. Enumerated April 16, 1930 HH #96, recorded: James B. McHone, 45 yo, b. KS Delia F., wife, 45 yo, b. KS. (Second wife) Ollie, son, 18 yo, b. KS Lena B., dau, 16 yo b. Idaho Eliza J., dau, 14 yo, b. Washington. John F., son, 12 yo, b. Idaho Freeman L., son, 10 yo, b. KS Lucy C., dau, 8 yo, b. KS Clarence E., step-son, 15 yo, b. KS 1940 US Census, AK, Washington Co., Marrs Hill Twsp. Enumerated April 6, 1940. HH #43, showed: Ollie McHone, 28 yo, b. Kansas. Highest school year completed - 8th. He was a Farmer. On April 1, 1935 he was living in Lynn, KS (with wife Virgie) Virgie*, wife, 30 yo, b. AK. Highest school year completed - 7th Ora, daughter, 3 yo Bobbie James, son, 1 yo (Wife is named "Virgie Mae McHone" in Navy casualty records) Ollie enlisted in the USN in Little Rock, AK on 14 Dec 1942. He arrived at the Naval Training Station, San Diego, CA on 17 Dec. 1942. Apprentice Seaman (AS) McHone was advanced to S2c on Jan 26, 1943 On April 26, 1943, Ollie was transferred from San Diego to the receiving station at San Francisco. He went aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35 on April 29, 1943. Ollie's rating changed on Aug 1, 1943 from S2c to F2c (Fireman 2nd class). His duties changed from the deck crew as a S2c to the engineering division as a F2c where he would help maintain the ship's engines and auxiliary machinery. He did his new duties well and on Jan 1, 1944 he advanced to F1c. He remained a F1c for the remainder of his service on board Indianapolis.

Ollie McHone, Fireman 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 Ollie was one of the twenty-eight crew members picked up and identified by USS Helm between Sunday August 5, 1945 to Monday August 6, 1945. It not being possible to bring Ollie aboard for the official Burial at Sea Ceremony he was reverently placed in a sea bag, weighted with two 5" shells and "committed to the deep" by his fellow seamen.