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Claudus Evans

Born 15 January 1925 in Wichita Falls, Texas

Died 2 September 2002 in Houston, Texas

Military Assignments from 14 December 1942 to 23 November 1945

GM3c, United States Navy

Serial number 357 31 75

Arrived	Unit / Organization	Location
14 Dec 1942	Entered US Navy, as Apprentice Seaman, aged 17 years and 11 months.	Wichita Falls, Texas
22 Dec 1942	Release to Active Duty from the Naval Recruiting Station.	Dallas, Texas
25 Dec 1942 - 20 Feb 1943	Assigned to U.S. Naval Training Station for Recruit Training.	San Diego, California
27 Jan 1943	Having completed recruit training, advanced to Seaman Second Class (S2c).	San Diego, California
20 Feb 1943 - 2 Mar 1943	Admitted to U.S. Naval Hospital for treatment. Sickness not the result of own misconduct.	San Diego, California
2 Mar 1943 - 19 Mar 1943	Admitted to U.S. Naval Hospital for treatment. Sickness not the result of own misconduct	Long Beach, California
21 Mar 1943 - 26 Apr 1943	Assigned to U.S. Naval Training Station for training	San Diego, California
29 Apr 1943	Reported onboard the USS Indianapolis (CA 35)	San Francisco, California
May 1943	USS Indianapolis receives her second wartime overhaul at the Mare Island Navy Yard. Some upgrades include newly fitted 40mm and 20mm guns, Mk. 33 gun director with a Mk. 4 radar antenna, and 5”/25 guns. Upon arrival in Pearl Harbor, Admiral Raymond Spruance moves his flag to this light cruiser.	Mare Island, California Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
2 Aug 1943 - 12 Aug 1943	Operation Cottage. Participated in the bombardment of Japanese shore installations on Kiska, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea – Aleutian Islands
20 Nov 1943 - 6 Dec 1943	Operation Galvanic. Participated in bombardment, support, and occupation of Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea – Gilbert Islands
1 Dec 1943	Promoted from Seaman Second Class (S2c) to Seaman First Class (S1c) while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea
29 Jan 1944 to 6 Feb 1944	Participated in air strikes, bombardments and occupation of Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea – Marshall Islands
17 Feb 1944 - 23 Feb 1944	Participated in bombardment, support and occupation of Eniwetok Atoll of the Marshall Islands while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea – Marshall Islands
24 Mar 1944	Crossed the Date Line East to West and the Equator North to South while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea
30 Mar 1944 - 31 Mar 1944	Participated in raids and air strikes on Palau Islands and Yap Island, Caroline Islands while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35)	At Sea – Caroline Islands
1 Apr 1944	Participated in raids and air strikes on Woleai Island, Caroline Islands while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea – Caroline Islands
May 1944	USS Indianapolis received an overhaul and repainting with pattern camouflage at Mare Island Navy Yard. Some upgrades included the newer type Mk. 22 gun director atop her open bridge, 40mm quad gun mount, and eight-inch projectiles by her second turret.	Mare Island, California
1 Jun 1944	Promoted from Seaman First Class (S1c) to Gunners Mate Third Class (GM3c) while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea
11 Jun 1944 - 10 Aug 1944	Participated in bombardment, support and occupation of Saipan, Guam and Tinian Islands, Marianas Islands while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35). The ship came under fire by Japanese shore batteries during the invasion of Saipan.	At Sea – Marianas Islands
18 Jun 1944 – 20 Jun 1944	Participated in the engagement between the Fifth Fleet and the Japanese Fleet off Saipan, Marianas Islands, in which over 350 Japanese Aircraft and several Japanese ships, including carriers and destroyers were destroyed by the American Forces while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35). This is remembered as the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance’s flagship during this encounter was the USS Indianapolis.	At Sea – Marianas Islands
12 Sep 1944 - 29 Sep 1944	Participated in the bombardment, support and occupation of the Palau Islands while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea – Palau Islands
16 Feb 1945 - 25 Feb 1945	Participated in the air strikes on Tokyo, Japan while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea – Near Japan
19 Feb 1945 - 1 Mar 1945	Participated in the assault, bombardment and occupation of Iwo Jima while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea – Iwo Jima
18 Mar 1945	Participated in the Ryukyu Island Operation Iceberg while onboard USS Indianapolis (CA 35).	At Sea – Ryukyu Island
18 Mar 1945 - 7 Apr 1945	Participated in Okinawa Gunto Operation onboard USS Indianapolis CA-35	At Sea - Okinawa
Jul 1945	USS Indianapolis received an overhaul and repairs.	Mare Island, California
16 Jul 1945	USS Indianapolis departs Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard with a secret cargo and orders to deliver it to Tinian with all possible speed. The cargo consisted of 137 pounds of Uranium 235.	San Francisco, California
26 Jul 1945	As the naval component of Project Alberta, the USS Indianapolis delivered the world's first operational atomic bomb to the island of Tinian.	At Sea - Tinian
28 July 1945	USS Indianapolis departed Guam, thus becoming the only ship to transit across the Philippine Sea without an escort during the war.	At Sea
30 Jul 1945	Entitled to wear the Asiatic-Pacific Area and American Area Campaign Service Ribbons in accordance with G.O. 194 and 207, while attached to and serving aboard the USS Indianapolis operating with the FIFTH Fleet.	At Sea – Philippine Sea
30 Jul 1945	USS Indianapolis hit by two torpedoes fired by Japanese submarine I-58, sinking within minutes. Of the 1,196 crew aboard, approximately 900 made it into the water.	At Sea – Philippine Sea
30 Jul 1945	Wounded in Action when the USS Indianapolis was sunk this date while enroute to the Philippines from Guam. All records, accounts and personal effects were lost with the ship. /signed CHAS. B. McVay, III, Captain, U.S. Navy	At Sea – Philippine Sea
3 Aug 1945	Along with only 316 others, GM3c Evans was found by a PV-1 Ventura Bomber and then rescued by crew from the USS Cecil J. Doyle (DE 368). From his medical record, “Injured in action against an organized enemy. At 0040 on July 30, 1945, his ship, the U.S.S. Indianapolis, was sunk east of Leyte. Floated for 100 hours on life belt until picked up. Has several small ulcers of the legs which are healing rapidly.”	At Sea – Philippine Sea
4 Aug 1945 - 6 Aug 1945	Received as survivor of USS Indianapolis (CA 35) via the USS Cecil J. Doyle (DE 368). Assigned to U.S. Naval Base Hospital #20	Peleliu
6 Aug 1945 - 8 Aug 1945	Transferred to USS Tranquility (AH 14) for treatment	At Sea – Pelelui to Guam
8 Aug 1945 - 9 Sep 1945	Assigned to U.S. Naval Base Hospital #18	Guam
13 Aug 1945	Awarded the Purple Heart this date for wounds received while in action against an organized enemy and while serving aboard the USS Indianapolis (CA 35) at sea.
9 Sep 1945 - 26 Sep 1945	Transferred to nearest RecSta West Coast onboard USS Hollandia (CVE 97)	At Sea
26 Sep 1945 - 11 Oct 1945	Reported to RS TADCEN, Camp Elliott	San Diego, California
11 Oct 1945 - 15 Nov 1945	On leave at Rt. A.	Henrietta, Texas
15 Nov 1945 - 20 Nov 1945	Reported to Naval Receiving Station	Dallas, Texas
21 Nov 1945 - 23 Nov 1945	Assigned to U.S. Naval Personnel Separation Center for honorable discharge.	Norman, Oklahoma

Decorations and Awards:

Congressional Gold Medal

Awarded to:

The Crew of the USS Indianapolis

December 20, 2018

In recognition of their perseverance, bravery, and service to the United States.

OBVERSE: The design depicts the USS Indianapolis with her 10 battle stars. Interspersed among a border of rivets are the inscriptions “USS INDIANAPOLIS CA-35” and her dates of service, “1932 – 1945”.

REVERSE: This design depicts a group of survivors clinging to a raft and offering support to each other during their ordeal. They have spotted either a plane or the spotlight from the USS Cecil J. Doyle, giving them a renewed sense of hope for their rescue. Sadly help came too late for so many of the crew. Inscriptions are “1195 SAILED,” “316 SURVIVED,” and “ACT OF CONGRESS 2018”.

Gunner’s Mate Third Class Rating Badge	Maintains guns, gun mounts, and gun ports. Acts as gun crew chief of small gun or member of crew of larger gun.
Purple Heart	For being wounded in action in any war or campaign under conditions which entitle the wearing of a wound chevron.
American Campaign Medal	The requirements for the American Campaign Medal were: a service member was required to either perform one year of duty (cumulative) within the continental borders of the United States, or perform 30 days consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty outside the borders of the United States but within the American Theater of Operations. The eligibility dates of the American Campaign Medal were from December 7, 1941 to March 2, 1946.
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal	Awarded this medal with two campaign stars (Iwo Jima operation between 15 Feb – 16 Mar 1945 and Okinawa Gunto operation 17 Mar – 30 Jun 1945). The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded to any member of the United States Military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945. There were 48 Navy official campaigns of the Pacific Theater, denoted on the service ribbon by campaign stars.
WWII Victory Medal	Established by Congress on 09 Jul 1945, and awarded to members of the US Armed Forces for service between 07 Dec 1941 and 31 Dec 1946

Miscellaneous information about different elements of his Navy time.

Battle of Kiska: Operation Cottage

Having learned bitter lessons at Attu, American commanders made certain that their soldiers had better equipment and proper clothing for the assault on Kiska, code-named Operation Cottage, where they expected to encounter several times as many Japanese troops as they’d faced on Attu. However, when U.S. ships arrived at Kiska on August 15, 1943, the weather was strangely clear and the seas quiet, and the approximately 35,000 soldiers landed unopposed. Then, after several days of scouring the island, they discovered that the Japanese had evacuated the entire garrison several weeks earlier, under cover of fog.

Battle of Tarawa: Operation Galvanic

In the Battle of Tarawa (November 20-23, 1943) during World War II (1939-45), the U.S. began its Central Pacific Campaign against Japan by seizing the heavily fortified, Japanese-held island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. The 18,000 U.S. Marines sent to tiny Betio were expected to easily secure it; however, problems quickly arose. Low tides prevented some U.S. landing crafts from clearing the coral reefs that ringed the island. Japanese coastal guns pounded the snagged vessels and desperate Marines gave up on freeing the boats and instead waded toward shore–hundreds of yards away– through chest-deep water amidst enemy fire. Despite heavy resistance from the 4,500 Japanese troops dug in on Betio, the Marines finally took the island after a bloody, 76-hour battle in which both sides suffered heavy casualties.

Kwajalein Atoll

In late January 1944, a combined force of U.S. Marine and Army troops launched an amphibious assault on three islets in the Kwajalein Atoll, a ring-shaped coral formation in the Marshall Islands where the Japanese had established their outermost defensive perimeter in World War II. Kwajalein Island and the nearby islets of Roi and Namur were the first of the Marshall Islands to be captured by U.S. troops, and would allow the Pacific Fleet to advance its planned assault on the islands and its drive towards the Philippines and the Japanese home islands.

Battle of Eniwetok Atoll: Operation Catchpole

Naval bombardment of Eniwetok began on 17 February, and the 22nd Marine Regiment, commanded by Colonel John T. Walker, landed on Engebi Island, on the north side of the atoll, on 18 February at 08:44. Resistance was light, and the island secured within six hours. Captured documents suggested that the defenses on Eniwetok Island would be light, and accordingly there was only a short bombardment on 19 February before the 106th Infantry Regiment went ashore. However, the Japanese soldiers had strong positions, and the Americans were stopped by heavy automatic fire. The island was not secured until 21 February. 37 Americans were killed; more than 800 Japanese defenders died. The mistake was not repeated at Parry Island. The battleships USS Tennessee and USS Pennsylvania and other ships delivered more than 900 tons of explosive onto the island. When the 22nd Marines landed on 22 February resistance was light. On 23 February the other islands of the atoll were captured.

Battle of Saipan

On June 15, 1944, during the Pacific Campaign of World War II (1939-45), U.S. Marines stormed the beaches of the strategically significant Japanese island of Saipan, with a goal of gaining a crucial air base from which the U.S. could launch its new long-range B-29 bombers directly at Japan’s home islands. Facing fierce Japanese resistance, Americans poured from their landing crafts to establish a beachhead, battle Japanese soldiers inland and force the Japanese army to retreat north. Fighting became especially brutal and prolonged around Mount Tapotchau, Saipan’s highest peak, and Marines gave battle sites in the area names such as “Death Valley” and “Purple Heart Ridge.” When the U.S. finally trapped the Japanese in the northern part of the island, Japanese soldiers launched a massive but futile banzai charge. On July 9, the U.S. flag was raised in victory over Saipan.

Battle of Iwo Jima

Iwo Jima, which means Sulfur Island, was strategically important as an air base for fighter escorts supporting long-range bombing missions against mainland Japan. Because of the distance between mainland Japan and U.S. bases in the Mariana Islands, the capture of Iwo Jima would provide an emergency landing strip for crippled B-29s returning from bombing runs. The seizure of Iwo would allow for sea and air blockades, the ability to conduct intensive air bombardment and to destroy the enemy's air and naval capabilities.

The seizure of Iwo Jima was deemed necessary, but the prize would not come easy. The fighting that took place during the 36-day assault would be immortalized in the words of Commander, Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who said, "Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue."

To the Japanese leadership, the capture of Iwo Jima meant the battle for Okinawa, and the invasion of Japan itself, was not far off.

On D-day, 19 February 1945, more than 450 ships massed off Iwo as the H-hour bombardment pounded the island. Shortly after 9 a.m., Marines of the 4th and 5th divisions hit beaches Green, Red, Yellow and Blue abreast, initially finding little enemy resistance. Coarse volcanic sand hampered the movement of men and machines as they struggled to move up the beach. As the protective naval gunfire subsided to allow for the Marine advance, the Japanese emerged from their fortified underground positions to begin a heavy barrage of fire against the invading force.

The 4th Marine Division pushed forward against heavy opposition to take the Quarry, a Japanese strong point. The 5th Marine Division's 28th Marines had the mission of isolating Mount Suribachi. Both tasks were accomplished that day.

The 36-day assault resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, including 6,800 dead. Of the 20,000 Japanese defenders, only 1,083 survived. The Marines' efforts, however, provided a vital link in the U.S. chain of bomber bases. By war's end, 2,400 B-29 bombers carrying 27,000 crewmen made unscheduled landings on the island.

Historians described U.S. forces' attack against the Japanese defense as "throwing human flesh against reinforced concrete." In the end, Iwo Jima was won not only by the fighting spirit of the Marines, but by the meticulous planning and support provided by the Navy and Army through supply efforts, medical care, and air and naval gunfire.

Twenty-seven Medals of Honor were awarded to Marines and sailors, many posthumously, more than were awarded for any other single operation during the war.

Eighteen U.S. Navy ships were sunk or badly damaged by enemy action with a loss of approximately 337 Sailors killed and 493 wounded.

I-58 (Submarine, 1944-1946)

I-58, a 2140-ton "B(3) Type" submarine, was built at Yokosuka, Japan. Completed in September 1944, she was modified in 1945 to carry the "Kaiten" manned torpedo. Her captain, Lieutenant Commander Mochitsura Hashimoto, did not get a chance to attack an enemy ship until 30 Jul 1945, when she ran across the unescorted heavy cruiser Indianapolis between the Marianas and the Philippines. After confirming the Indianapolis as a hostile warship (though misidentifying her as a battleship), Hashimoto launched six conventional torpedoes toward the American cruiser. Each torpedo carried 1,210 pounds of explosives. Two of them scored hits, and sank the Indianapolis within minutes. . I-58 was surrendered at the end of World War II, and was scuttled off Goto, Japan, on 1 April 1946.

USS Indianapolis

Overview:

· Type: Portland-class heavy cruiser

· Shipyard: New York Shipbuilding Co.

· Laid Down: March 31, 1930

· Launched: November 7, 1931

· Commissioned: November 15, 1932

· Fate: Sunk July 30, 1945 by I-58

Specifications:

Ø Displacement: 33,410 tons

Ø Length: 639 ft., 5 in.

Ø Beam: 90 ft. 6 in.

Ø Draft:: 30 ft. 6 in.

Ø Propulsion: 8 White-Foster boilers, single reduction geared turbines

Ø Speed: 32.7 knots

Ø Complement: 1,269 (wartime)

Armament:

Ø Guns

o 8 x 8-inch (3 turrets with 3 guns each)

o 8 x 5-inch guns

Ø Aircraft

o 2 x OS2U Kingfishers

Battle Stars:

v Bougainville

v Aleutians

v Gilbert Islands

v Marshall Islands

v Asiatic-Pacific

v Marianas

v Tinian

v Western Caroline

v Japanese Home Islands

v Okinawa Gunto

Construction: Laid down on March 31, 1930, USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was the second of two Portland-class built by the US Navy. An improved version of the earlier Northampton-class, the Portlands were slightly heavier and mounted a larger number of 5-inch guns. Built at the New York Shipbuilding Company in Camden, NJ, Indianapolis was launched on November 7, 1931. Commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard the following November, Indianapolis departed for its shakedown cruise in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Returning in February 1932, the cruiser underwent a minor refit before sailing to Maine.

Prewar Operations:

Embarking President Franklin Roosevelt at Campobello Island, Indianapolis steamed to Annapolis, MD where the ship entertained members of the cabinet. That September Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson came aboard and used the cruiser for an inspection tour of installations in the Pacific. After participating in a number of fleet problems and training exercises, Indianapolis again embarked the President for a "Good Neighbor" Tour of South America in November 1936. Arriving home, the cruiser was dispatched to the West Coast for service with the US Pacific Fleet.

World War II: On December 7, 1941, as the Japanese were attacking Pearl Harbor, Indianapolis was conducting fire training off Johnston Island. Racing back to Hawaii, the cruiser immediately joined Task Force 11 to search for the enemy. Her first action came in the South Pacific deep in enemy dominated waters about 350 miles south of Rabaul, New Britain. Late in the afternoon of 20 February 1942, the American ships were attacked by 18 twin engine bombers, flying in two waves. In the battle that followed, 16 of the planes were shot down by accurate antiaircraft fire of the ship and fighter planes from Lexington. All ships escaped damage and they splashed two trailing Japanese seaplanes. In early 1942, Indianapolis sailed with the carrier USS Lexington and conducted raids in Southwest Pacific against Japanese bases on New Guinea. On 10 March the Task Force, reinforced by the carrier Yorktown, attacked enemy ports at Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea, where the enemy was marshaling amphibious forces. Carrier-based planes achieved complete surprise by flying in from the south, crossing the high Owen Stanley mountain range, and swooping in to strike Japanese harbor shipping. As they inflicted heavy damage on Japanese warships and transports, the American flyers knocked down many of the enemy planes which rose to protect the ports. American loses were exceptionally light. Ordered to Mare Island, CA for an overhaul, the cruiser returned to action that summer and joined US forces operating in the Aleutians. On August 7, 1942, Indianapolis joined in the bombardment of Japanese positions on Kiska.

On the night of 19 February 1943, while Indianapolis and two destroyers patrolled southwest of Attu, hoping to intercept enemy ships running reinforcements and supplies into Kiska and Attu, she contacted a Japanese cargo ship, Akagane Maru. When challenged, the enemy tried to feign a reply but was shelled by Indianapolis' 8 inch guns. Since the Akagane Maru exploded with such great force and left no survivors, she was presumably laden with ammunition. That May, Indianapolis supported US troops as they recaptured Attu. It fulfilled a similar mission in August during the landings on Kiska. Following another refit at Mare Island, Indianapolis arrived at Pearl Harbor and was made flagship of Vice Admiral Raymond Spruance's 5th Fleet. In this role, it sailed as part of Operation Galvanic on November 10, 1943. Nine days later, it provided fire support as US Marines prepared to land on Tarawa.

Following the US advance across the central Pacific, Indianapolis saw action off Kwajalein and supported US air strikes across the western Carolines. In June 1944, the 5th Fleet provided support for the invasion of the Marianas. On June 13, the cruiser opened fire on Saipan before being dispatched to attack Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima. Returning, the cruiser took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19, before resuming operations around Saipan. As the battle in the Marianas wound down, Indianapolis was sent to aid in the invasion of Peleliu that September.

After brief refit at Mare Island, the cruiser joined Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher's fast carrier task force on February 14, 1945, shortly before it attacked Tokyo (the first attack on Tokyo since General Doolittle’s famous raid in April 1942). Immediately after the strikes, the Task Force raced to the Bonins to support the landings on Iwo Jima. The ship remained there until 1 March aiding in the bloody struggle for that little island by protecting the invasion ships and training her guns on any targets spotted on the beach. The ship returned to Admiral Mitscher's Task Force in time to strike Tokyo again on 25 February and Hachijo off the southern coast of Honshu the following day. Although weather was extremely bad, the Americans destroyed 158 planes and sank 5 small ships while pounding ground installations and demolishing trains. On March 24, 1945, Indianapolis took part in the pre-invasion bombardment of Okinawa. A week later, the cruiser was hit by kamikaze while off the island. Hitting Indianapolis' stern, the kamikaze's bomb penetrated through the ship and exploded in the water underneath. After making temporary repairs, the cruiser limped home to Mare Island.

Entering the yard, the cruiser underwent extensive repair to the damage. Emerging in July 1945, the ship was tasked with the secret mission of carrying the parts for the atomic bomb to Tinian in the Marianas. Departing on July 16, and steaming at high speed, Indianapolis made record time covering 5,000 miles in ten days. Unloading the components, the ship received orders to proceed to Leyte in the Philippine and then on to Okinawa. Leaving Guam on July 28, and sailing unescorted on a direct course, Indianapolis crossed paths with the Japanese submarine I-58 two days later. Opening fire around 12:15 AM on July 30, I-58 hit Indianapolis with two torpedoes on its starboard side. Critically damaged, the cruiser sank in twelve minutes forcing around 880 survivors into the water.

Due to the rapidity of the ship's sinking, few life rafts were able to be launched and most of the men had only lifejackets. As the ship was operating on a secret mission, no notification had been sent to Leyte alerting them that Indianapolis was en route. As a result, it was not reported as overdue. Though three SOS messages were sent before the ship sank, they were not acted on for various reasons. For the next four days, Indianapolis' surviving crew endured dehydration, starvation, exposure, and terrifying shark attacks. Around 10:25 AM on August 2, the survivors were spotted by a US aircraft conducting a routine patrol. Dropping a radio and life raft, the aircraft reported its position and all possible units were dispatched to the scene. Of the approximately 880 men who went into the water, only 321 were rescued with four of those later dying from their wounds.

Among the survivors was Indianapolis' commanding officer, Captain Charles Butler McVay III. After the rescue, McVay was court-martialed and convicted for failing to follow an evasive, zig-zag course. Due to evidence that the Navy had put the ship in danger and the testimony of Commander Mochitsura Hashimoto, I-58's captain, which stated that an evasive course would not have mattered, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz remitted McVay's conviction and restored him to active duty. Despite this, many of the crewmembers' families blamed him for the sinking and he later committed suicide in 1968.

Any errors on this page were transcription errors made while reading the copied official record of Claudus Evans.