King, Richard Eugene S2
314 69 24

84 Penn St., Battle Creek, Michigan
Sept. 28, 1945.
Refer
Pers - 53230 - mig
314 69 24

Dear Sir:

On Sept. 14th I wrote to Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs, concerning my son Richard Eugene King, then missing in action from the "Indianapolis". At that time I had heard there was a survivor by the name of Richard Edward King, in a Navy Hospital in the Philippines, but who had been moved so there was no way for an unauthorized friend to trace him further. Sept. 18th I received a second telegram from the Naval Personnel, saying that after reviewing the facts available it was concluded he lost his life July 30th. (Richard Eugene)

Sept. 26th I read a letter from someone stationed on Palau, saying he was enclosing a clipping and picture from a magazine of a burial on Palau, in Peleliu. I now have the clipping and picture, and though there is no name in the clipping nor picture, it does say it is of a burial of a survivor from the "Indianapolis", but in his letter this man says it is the burial of Richard King, 84 Penn St., Battle Creek, Mich. This man's home is in Battle Creek, which is why he is interested, of course, and he wondered if the parents of Richard knew he was buried there. This does not fit in with the telegram exactly, because in that it stated he lost his life on July 30th. Perhaps he was a survivor and later was buried in Palau, and I wish to find out about this. I am wondering if a mistake has been made and if it is Richard Edward King buried on Palau. In view of the fact, that the telegram and this word do not agree would you be kind enough to investigate further and see whether or not a mistake has been made. I realize it must be easy to make a mistake in these cases, but I think it should be investigated further. It is not fair to the parents not to know the truth. Of course, I am very, very sorry if it is either boy, but in case the burial was not of my boy, I can still hope that someday, he might be found alive and come home safely, as I will not give up hope yet. I know they cannot all come home, but each Mother is hoping that her boy may come home alive. There were two Richard Kings, on the "Indianapolis".

I am not sure whether this Battle Creek man who wrote the letter knew my Richard or not or whether he saw him or not, but I am sending him a picture of my Richard so that in case he saw him, he would perhaps be able to identify him, if that was possible. I also tried to get in touch with the Chaplain, but not knowing his name nor address perhaps my letter will not reach him. The Chaplain, shown in the picture, I mean. I also sent him a picture for identification. If there are any details, I would be very glad if you can send them, and please investigate this again;

Yours very truly,

Mrs. Leone King.

P.S. It may be that this Battle Creek man heard someone say they were burying a "Richard King" and took it for granted it was Richard Eugene from Battle Creek, and out of kindness he wished the parents to know about it.

84 Penn St., Battle Creek, Mich.,
Oct. 2, 1945.

KING, Richard Eugene, S2c,
314 69 24
Pers-8249-LK

October 12, 1945

My dear Mrs. King,

Your letter of October 2, 1945 addressed to me reached me yesterday, also your letter of September 28 addressed to Vice Admiral Jacobs was referred to me. I shall answer them both as best I can.

I have thoroughly checked the records and have found that there was no person by the name of Richard Edward King aboard the INDIANAPOLIS, when she sank July 30, 1945. Your son, Richard Eugene was the only King aboard whose first name was Richard. Your son was not among the survivors taken to the Philippines or Palau.

The burial picture taken on Peleliu, which you mentioned was a picture of the burial ceremony of one of the INDIANAPOLIS men. I myself was on Palau and know this could not have been a picture of the burial of your son.

In my opinion there is no possibility that any of the survivors drifted ashore. The nearest land (Peleliu) was over 300 miles from where the INDIANAPOLIS went down.

You state that you have written the Chaplain and your letters were returned. Lt. T. M. Conway was our Chaplain but he did not survive the tragedy.

In closing, may I again express my deepest sympathy.

Very sincerely,
CHAS. B. MCVAY, III
Captain, U. S. Navy

Mrs. Leone King
84 Penn Street
Battle Creek, Michigan

Pers-8249-LK

Dear Sir:

I received your very nice letter concerning my son, Richard Eugene King, S 2/c, 314-69-24. My heart is heavy because of his Loss. I know there is nothing I can do about it except have faith in God that it suits his purpose. Could the boys have known how many lives they saved by delivering the atomic bomb, thus averting the invasion of Japan, perhaps they would have derived some comfort from this. God says there is no greater love than that by which man loses his life for others.

I am very happy for you that you survived and I hope that you will recover satisfactorily.

There is something which I cannot understand and there must be a mistake. First, there were two boys by the same initials on the "Indianapolis", but different middle names, my boy's name is Richard Eugene King, and the other boy's name is Richard Edward King. It does not necessarily mean my boy is saved if the following is an error, but I could still hope that he may have escaped in some way, and perhaps return safely. Do you think it possible some could have escaped and be on some island, unknown to the rest of your survivors.

The other day, a letter was received here from a Battle Creek boy, who out of the kindness of his heart, wanting the parents to know of this, sent a clipping and burial, or picture of a burial from a magazine. He was on Palau at the time, and this burial was in Peleliu, on Palau. There was no name in the clipping or picture, but underneath the picture it stated that it was the burial of a man lost on the "Indianapolis". This boy's letter stated it was the burial of Richard King, 84 Penn St., and I am wondering if he knew this or if he heard someone say it was Richard King, and just took it for granted it was my Richard Eugene. I do not know whether he knows Richard personnally or not, or whether he saw him himself or not. I have written him to find out.

Now this does not agree with the telegram, which says he presumably lost his life at the time the ship was lost on July 30th, unless, of course, he was later found. If so, why was I not notified of this, or if he is buried there why am I not notified of it. If he was alive and a survivor, perhaps I could have at least written to him, but all my letters were returned. I know it must be easy to make mistakes in these cases, but I wonder if you would please help check up on this. My Richard had a Buddy, a Sea Bee in Samar, who went to the Navy Hospital and saw Richard Edward King's name on the survivor's list, but who had been moved on somewhere else. This is why I wonder if there is a mistake. I have tried to get in touch with the Chaplain, but not knowing his name he may not get my letters. I also enclosed a picture of Dick to see if he could identify him. This would make a difference to Richard Edward's parents too. Would you please help me about this? I have written the Navy Dept. Casualty Section. If you can help out in checking this, I shall be very grateful. Again, I thank you for your letter.

Yours truly,
Mrs. Leone King

P. S. I read your interview in the Detroit paper of the sinking, and you must have suffered terribly, and also the other boys. I cannot dare to think of it.

Note: Error in the other sailor's name by Mrs King [Robert Harold KING on the Navy Final Sailing List]

No replay to this letter, but the concerns were addressed in Captain McVay's first letter.