U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly and Todd Young Wednesday introduced the bipartisan USS Indianapolis Congressional Gold Medal Act, which would recognize and honor the crew of the USS Indianapolis for their perseverance, bravery, and service to the United States in World War II. The medal would be displayed at the Indiana War Memorial Museum in Indianapolis.
Donnelly and Young said, “On behalf of a grateful nation, we are pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation which would honor the crew of the USS Indianapolis with a Congressional Gold Medal for their service and sacrifice during World War II. This recognition would honor the young men who served, including the fewer than 20 living survivors, as well as those who died on board the Indianapolis.”
The Portland-class heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis was commissioned in 1932. It operated from Pearl Harbor and throughout the Pacific while participating in major battles during World War II, escorting convoys and attacking enemy submarines. After midnight on July 30, 1945, a Japanese submarine attacked the USS Indianapolis, sinking the ship within minutes. Approximately 1,200 U.S. servicemembers were on board. After five days afloat in the Pacific Ocean, just over 300 sailors survived.
