MEMPHIS, Texas – Each summer, the still-living survivors of the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) gather for a reunion in the namesake Indiana capital city, commemorating the sinking of the heavy cruiser, after being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the Philippine Sea on July 30, 1945.
The Indianapolis – nicknamed the “Indy” – had been on a very critical mission that hot July in the final weeks of World War II, dispatched on a top-secret mission to Tinian Island, in the Pacific Ocean, to deliver the components and enriched uranium of “Little Boy,” the atomic bomb that was to eventually be dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945. Recall that all of this happened in three weeks, following the successful test of the first atomic bomb at White Sands, New Mexico, at Trinity Site, on July 16, 1945. Because of the seriousness of the war, time was of the essence, which is why the Indianapolis was dispatched so quickly.
But after delivering “the bomb” to Tinian and heading on to the Philippines, the Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk. Of the 1,195 crew members on board, approximately 300 went down with the ship, while the remaining sailors – 890 total – faced a watery hellscape of sharks, exposure to saltwater and the tropical heat, exposure to the ship’s massive oil spill and other horrors. All without food or water. When those fortunate enough to endure the worst were found by a passing U.S. military plane on patrol, only 316 had survived. The others succumbed to the elements and shark attacks. The Indy, meanwhile, would go straight to the bottom, coming to rest 18,000 feet below the surface, not to be discovered until August 2017, when it was discovered by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who had led a search team to find the cruiser.
Yes, the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis was a catastrophe like no other in the annals of history of the U.S. Navy. It was this tragedy that resulted in the greatest single loss of life at sea from a single ship in all of the Navy’s history.
One of those survivors, Cleatus Lebow, now 96 years old and still living in the small town of Memphis, in Hall County, Texas, would normally be heading to Indianapolis, Indiana to participate in the annual reunion with his fellow survivors. There are only eight survivors left.
But due to COVID-19 and the travel and health concerns associated with the pandemic, the reunion organizers canceled the 75th Anniversary Reunion that had been scheduled this week. Instead, the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) Survivors Organization and the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) Legacy Organization teamed up to offer a virtual reunion to take place beginning July 30th, on the 75th anniversary of the sinking.
Additionally, this had been a special year for the Indy survivors. They were to be awarded, in person, a the “U.S.S. Indianapolis Congressional Gold Medal Act” Congressional Gold Medal “in recognition of their perseverance, bravery and service to the United States.” Signed into law in December 2018 by President Trump, Senate Bill 2101, was originally introduced by U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Indiana, in the autumn of 2017.
Southwest Ledger reached out to Lebow via the office of U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, who is the congressman for the district where Lebow lives. Spokeswoman Melissa Kalka explained that while Lebow will be participating in the virtual reunion via computer at the Memphis Public Library, it is only for close family and friends. Kalka said Lebow agreed to an interview at another time in the near future.
However, Kalka, who worked hard in 2018 to convince members of Congress to award the survivors the Congressional Gold Medal, said working on this project was one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.
Kalka also said that the motto of the crew of the U.S.S. Indianapolis is Courage, Honor and Legacy. She added, “The crew of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, your spirit – brave, unyielding and true, will never die and we will never forget.”