Klein, Theil Joseph SK3
861 95 31

Oct 10, 1945
Detroit 10, Mich.

My Dear Mr. McVay,

I received your letter stating about my husband. What I would like to really know if it is plausible to tell me, what proof the Navy Department has in regard to my husbands death. If there is a possibility of them being mistaken at all I also would like the names of the boys that were in J.S.K. [GSK}

We still have hopes that there could be a mistake. If you would kindley get us this information, I would really appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Bernice Klein
4154 - 29th St.
Detroit 10, Mich.

Pers-8249-ade

October 16, 1945

My dear Mrs. Klein,

Your letter of October 10, in which you asked certain questions, reached me this morning. I will attempt to answer them as best I can.

You asked what proof the Navy Department has in regards to your husband's death. There is quoted herein the manner in which the Navy Department reached these conclusions.

The authority for change of status in less than one years time is contained in Public Law 408, 78th Congress. Under this act and under authority vested in the Director of the Dependents Welfare Division, Bureau of Naval. Personnel, by the Secretary of the Navy, the Director is authorized to change the casualty status of any Naval personnel from missing to dead upon receipt of information deemed by him to conclusively establish death. Such a determination by him is conclusive. Section 9 of this act provides in part as follows: "When any information deemed to establish conclusively the death of any person is received in the department concerned, action shall be taken thereon as an official report of death, notwithstanding any prior action relating to death or other status of such personnel." Under the provisions of this act such action may be taken at any time that the Director deems sufficient evidence to establish death has been received. It is not necessary to await the expiration of any period of time as was previously required.

In the case of the INDIANAPOLIS the Dependents Welfare Division made a thorough investigation of the possibility of survival of the personnel reported to be missing. This investigation included a check of all available information. The evidence obtained through the investigation and the information supplied by the Commanding Officer of the INDIANAPOLIS, was considered to conclusively establish the death of all personnel aboard the INDIANAPOLIS who were carried in a missing status.

I have been able to find only one man among the survivors who was in the G.S.K. His name is Charles I. Greenlee, S2c. He was sleeping in the Spare Parts storeroom and miraculously reached the top-side.

I am sorry that the information is so meagre, but I am sure you will understand when you realize the ship sank in the middle of the night in such a short time that we were unable to take any of the records with us.

Again may I express my deepest sympathy to you.

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

Charles I. Greenlee, S2c
10 West Klm Street
Waynesburg, Pa.

Mrs. Bernice Klein
4154 - 29th St.
Detroit 10, Michigan