| The Sinking of USS Indianapolis: Navy Department |
| Press Release, Report on Court Martial of Capt. Charles B. McVay, III,
USN, 23 February 1946 |
|
 |
REPORT ON COURT MARTIAL |
OF |
CAPTAIN CHARLES B. McVAY, III, U.S.N. |
COMMANDING OFFICER, USS INDIANAPOLIS |
|
| Captain Charles B. McVay, III, U.S. Navy, was tried on December
3-19, 1945, by a Naval Court Martial composed of seven members. His trial
followed the sinking of the USS Indianapolis by a Japanese submarine
and was based upon two charges: First, Inefficiency in failing to issue and
insure the execution of orders for the abandonment of the USS
Indianapolis: Second, Negligence in "Suffering a Vessel of the Navy
to be Hazarded" by neglecting and failing to cause a zigzag course to be
steered when visibility conditions and information concerning enemy submarines
required him under current United States Fleet Tactical Orders to zigzag
in order to minimize the danger from submarine attack. Captain McVay was
acquitted of the first charge and therefore was cleared of responsibility
for the loss of lives incident to the abandonment of the ship. He was convicted
of the second charge. He was neither charged with, nor tried for, losing
the Indianapolis. The sentence imposed by the court decreed the loss
of one hundred numbers in his temporary grade of Captain and one hundred
numbers in his permanent grade of Commander. In view of his outstanding previous
record, the court unanimously recommended clemency. |
| The proceedings, findings and sentence were found legal by the
Judge Advocate General and were approved by the Chief of Naval Personnel.
This approval, however, was accompanied by the recommendation that in view
of Captain McVay's excellent record and the unanimous recommendation for
clemency by the court, the sentence should be remitted and he should be restored
to duty. Fleet Admiral King, Commander in Chief and Chief of Naval Operations
at the time of the disaster in July 1945, concurred in the recommendation
by the Chief of Naval Personnel. Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal has
approved these recommendations and has remitted the sentence of Captain McVay
in its entirety, releasing him from arrest and restoring him to duty. |
| Captain McVay has a record of capable and gallant service to his
country. During World War II he had extensive combat duty; he received numerous
commendations and the award of the Silver Star Medal for heroism in action
and the Purple Heart Medal. |
| http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq30-4.htm |
