Stewart, Thomas Andrew SK2
273 52 91

Madison, Ala

Oct. 2. 1945

Captain Charles McVay III

Dear Sir:
We had your nice letter concerning Thomas Andrew Stewart, our son. We really have suffered the "greatest" lost of our lives, we are just asking "God to help us" to stand up under this strain of losing our son. We are praying for all who were connected with that ship.
If you hear anything more concerning the sinking of the ship - please let us know. Was it An Emmey Action? We just want to know all we can about it.
Too, would you tell me what our son done in the ship or what officer did he work for? He wrote us every day, but, said nothing concerning the ship & his work. He thought it best and I'm sure it was.
What part of ship was he supposed to be that nite of the sinking?
Captain McVay, we are happy over you and others who were saved while our hearts are broken over our son and others who had go.
Could we have the name and addresses of those who were saved?
Our son had a friend in Calif. & we don't know his last name. But his first & am anxious to know if any of them are our son's friend, what I mean close friend,

I will appreciate this so much,
May God's richest blessing be on you and yours - and Bless the Navy we love it as our son did.

Thanking you again
Sincerely
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas M. Stewart
Madison, Alabama

P S. Will they raise that ship?
Handwritten notes "it is impossible, no - sank in water over 1200 fathoms deep"

STEWART, Thomas Andrew
Pers-8249-LK

October 9, 1945

My dear Mr. and Mrs. Stewart,

Your letter of October 2, 1945 reached me several days ago. I regret that there is nothing I can add to the information contained in my letter to you of September 27, 1945.

All of the ship's records were lost and therefore, the location of Thomas's bunk, his watch station, and the names of the men he worked with are not available. I have requested the Office of Public Information to forward to you a complete list of the survivors.

The INDIANAPOLIS was sunk presumeably by mines or torpedoes and sank in water over 1200 fathoms deep and it is therefore impossible to raise her.

In closing, may I again express my deepest sympathies.

Very sincerely,

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

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Stewart
Madison, Alabama

Postcard

Oct 22, 1945
Dear Charles,
My son, Thomas A. Stewart S2/c was on the Indianapolis when it sank. I am writing you to ask if you know anything about him. I would really appreciate a letter from you with any information you may have. My address is:
Mrs Thomas Stewart
Madison, Ala.

Thanks,
Mrs Stewart

Front address of postcard

Capt. Charles N McVay, III
2126 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, D.C.

Pers-8249-LK
STEWART, Thomas Andrew S2c, USNR, V-6, 273 52 91

October 25, 1945

My dear Mrs. Stewart:

Your post card dated October 22, concerning your son, Thomas A. Stewart, Seaman second class, reached me today.

My letter to you of September 27, conveying all the information I possess concerning the sinking of the INDIANAPOLIS in the early morning hours of July 30, 1945, and the manner in which your son lost his life evidently did not reach you.

The INDIANAPOLIS was enroute to the Philippines from Guam after a run which set a new speed record from San Francisco, and after delivery of an atomic bomb she was approximately 450 miles from Leyte when two heavy under-water explosions occurred on the starboard side forward. She filled rapidly with water thro ugh the gaping holes in her under-water body caused by this explosion and within fifteen minutes sank. Many men lost their lives almost instantaneously. The exact manner in which your son met his death is not known, but it is believed that he went down with his ship.

The first group of survivors were picked up Thursday, August 2, 1945, and the rest, of which I was one, the next morning, bringing the total to fifteen officers and three hundred one enlisted men. For days thereafter the area where the ship went down, and where any possible survivors could be, was searched by ships and planes but no other survivors were picked up.

Nothing that I can say will lighten the burden which is yours at this time, but I do want you to know that your son had done his part in the team work which made the INDIANAPOLIS an efficient fighting unit of the fleet.

The surviving officers and men of my command join me in the expression of wholehearted sympathy to you in the great loss which you have sustained.

Very sincerely,

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

Mrs. Thomas M. Stewart
Madison, Alabama