USS Indianapolis CA-35
Floyd Ralph Wolfe - Lost At Sea

Name: Floyd Ralph Wolfe
Rank / Rating: GM3-Gunner's Mate Third Class
Service #: 655 67 62
DOB: Apr 03, 1912
From: Turner, OR
Parents: William Charles and Elma Saley Wolfe
Went Aboard: Apr 02, 1943
Age When Ship Went Down: 33 years, 3 months, 27 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Carl Fahnestock (Admin)
Bio Last Updated: Oct 01, 2026

Floyd Ralph Wolfe was born April 3, 1912 in Artesian, South Dakota. His siblings were Orville, Maurice, Lorraine, Dwayne, William, Fred, and Esther. He registered for the draft in Nov 1940 in Oregon and enlisted in the USN on Dec 9, 1942. He reported for duty on Apr 2, 1943 aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35.

Floyd Ralph Wolfe GM3-Gunner's Mate Third 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