Lorenc, Edward Richard S2
314 62 64

Detroit, Mich
Sept 4, 1945
Rec'd 10/27/45

Capt. Charles Butler McVay, III
San Francisco, Calif.

Dear Sir,
On Aug 13th we received a telegram that our son Edward Richard Lorenc, S2C who was on the Indianapolis is missing in action. That is all we know, we have had no more news about him.
Waiting like this from day to day is agony. I don't know what to think anymore.
Is there a possibility that he could be among the survivors and has not been identified, or that he could have been picked up by some other ship or perhaps got to some island?
Please sir, I beg you give me any information you can and I will be grateful to you all my life which right now seems empty and not worth living.
He was 18 in April and has been in service since Jan.
So please give me any information you can.

I will be anxiously awaiting your reply.

Yours truly,
Mrs. Mark Lorenc
13180 Moenart St.
Detroit 12 Mich.

Pers-8249-LK

LORENC, Edward Richard, S2c, USN,
314 62 64

October 30, 1945

My dear Mrs. Lorenc,

Your letter of September 4th concerning your son, Edward Richard Lorenc, Seaman second class, United States Navy, has just reached me here in the Bureau of Naval Personnel where I have been on temporary duty since my return from Guam the middle of last month.

I regret that I can add nothing to my letter of September 26th which I trust reached you after your letter to me was written.

It is difficult I know for you to understand why we can not furnish more information. However, when it is realized the ship sank in the middle of the night in a very short time and that no records what soever were saved that may explain our difficulty in piecing together a coherent story.

May I again express my heartfelt sympathy. Very sincerely,

CHAS. B. McVAY, III
Captain, U. S. Navy

Mrs. Mark Lorence
13180 Moenart
Detroit 12, Michigan