The sinking of the USS Indianapolis during World War II was the US Navy’s worst tragedy at sea. Eight hundred and eighty Sailors died, and only 317 survived, one being Cleatus Lebow of Memphis, Texas. The Indianapolis delivered to the U.S. base on the island of Tinian the atomic bomb components which were ultimately used to construct the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.
On July 30, 1945, four days after leaving Tinian, the Indianapolis, operating under radio silence, was hit by two Japanese torpedoes that sank the ship in 12 minutes. The Sailors spent five days and four nights in the shark-infested Pacific Ocean. No one came to look for them because it was a secret mission, and the Navy Command did not know the ship was missing. A plane searching for enemy submarines saw something and flew closer to the water. What the pilot saw were the Sailors’ heads bobbing in the water. As the plane approached, the men began to wave. The plane radioed for help and a rescue boat later arrived. The Sailors who served aboard the USS Indianapolis carried the weapon that ultimatelywon the war, and they endured unthinkable horrors in the harrowing ordeal at sea.
In December 2018, the crew of the USS Indianapolis was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal “… in recognition of their perseverance, bravery and service to the United States.”
This Saturday, February 7th, as part of our Reflections on Military Service, The Texas Panhandle War Memorial will dedicate a new permanent exhibit remembering and honoringCleatus Lebow and the USS Indianapolis. The dedication will begin at 1 pm in the Chapel. Light snacks will follow.
Come and visit our Education Center of military artifacts and photographs from WWI to Afghanistan. The War Memorial has the only Military Chapel in the Panhandle, available for weddings, memorial services and funerals. Our high-tech Education Center features five computer kiosks, each with information on 11 U. S. wars. We also have oral histories of the Vietnam War and World War II. Visit our gift shop for military tee shirts, ball caps, and military memorabilia.
We encourage you to visit our Museum Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Our telephone number is 806-350-8387. Follow us on Facebook and visit our website www.TexasPanhandleWarMemorial.com
Thanks for all you do in getting our events out,
Tim
Tim Reid
Executive Director
FBI Unit Chief Retd
Texas Panhandle War Memorial
4111 S. Georgia
Amarillo, TX 79110
806-350-8387