Charles B. McVay III
| Charles B. McVay III | |
|---|---|
McVay talks to war correspondents in Guam about the sinking of his ship in August 1945
|
|
| Birth name | Charles Butler McVay III |
| Born |
July 30, 1898 Ephrata, Pennsylvania |
| Died | November 6, 1968 (aged 70) Litchfield, Connecticut |
| Place of burial | Bayou Liberty, Louisiana |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1920–1949 |
| Rank |
 Rear Admiral
|
| Commands held | USS Indianapolis (CA-35) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Silver Star Purple Heart Navy Unit Commendation |
Charles B. McVay III (July 30, 1898 – November 6, 1968) was an American naval officer and the commanding officer of USS Indianapolis (CA-35) when it was lost in action in 1945, resulting in a massive loss of life. Of all captains in the history of the United States Navy, he is the only one to have been subjected to court-martial for losing a ship sunk by an act of war, despite the fact that he was on a top secret mission maintaining radio silence (the testimony of the Japanese commander who sank his ship also seemed to exonerate McVay). After years of mental health problems, he committed suicide. Following years of efforts by some survivors and others to clear his name, McVay was posthumously exonerated by the 106th United States Congress and President Bill Clinton on October 30, 2000.
Charles Butler McVay III was born in Ephrata, Pennsylvania on July 30, 1898 to a Navy family. His father, Charles Butler McVay Jr. (September 9, 1868 – October 28, 1949), who had commanded the tender Yankton during the cruise of the Great White Fleet (1907–1909), was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War I, and served as Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet the early 1930s.
Charles III was a 1920 graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Before taking command of Indianapolis in November 1944, McVay was chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee of the Combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C., the Allies' highest intelligence unit. Earlier in World War II, he was awarded the Silver Star for displaying courage under fire.
...
Wikipedia