Malone, Elvin Cary S1
939 96 18

Oct 9, 1945

Dear Capt. McVay,

I'm the wife of Elvin C. Malone, S1c of the USS Indianapolis who was believed to have gone down with his ship.
I want to know if you believe any of the boy could be prisoners. I've prayed day and nite they could all be alive somewhere. I can't seem to give up hopes of my husband.
I've heard some of the boys were out of their minds and didn't have their "dog tags" on, at the time the ship went down. Do you have any out of their mind and don't know their name?
I'd appreciate it very much if you tell me what you know.

Sincerely

Mrs. Jewell R. Malone

MALONE, Elvin C., S1c,
939 96 18, V-6, USNR

Pers-8249-LK

October 12, 1945

My dear Mrs. Malone,

Your letter of October 9, 1945, concerning your husband, Elvin C. Malone, reached me yesterday.
I regret to tell you that in my opinion none of the officers or men of the INDIANAPOLIS were taken prisoners.

It is true that some of the survivors were out of their head when picked up, this was due primarily to exhaustion and within a matter of hours they all fully regained their senses. We know all the names of the men who survived and I am certain your husband is not among them.

Again may I offer you my sincerest sympathy.

Very sincerely,

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

Mrs. Jewell R. Malone
Box 95
Guntown, Mississippi