USS Indianapolis Crew Awarded Congressional Gold Medal on 75th Anniversary of Sinking - USNI News...

The survivors of one of World War II’s worst naval disasters were awarded Congressional Gold Medals in a ceremony ahead of the 75th anniversary of the July 30,1945, sinking of the heavy cruiser by a Japanese submarine in the closing months of the war.

“On behalf of the 1,195 Sailors and Marines who served aboard USS Indianapolis, it is an honor to receive a Congressional Gold Medal,” Harold Bray, 93, the youngest remaining survivor and chair of the USS Indianapolis CA-35 Survivors Organization, said in a Wednesday statement provided to USNI News.

“Eight survivors remain today, and we are proud to represent our shipmates who are no longer with us. We are very grateful to Congress for this special recognition.”

“The survivors of the sinking of the World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis struggled for almost five days in the water just to survive”