Charles B. McVay III
Charles Butler McVay III (August 31, 1898 – November 6, 1968) was an American naval officer and the commanding officer of the cruiser USS Indianapolis which was lost in action in 1945, resulting in a significant loss of life. Of all captains in the history of the United States Navy, he is the only one 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.
Charles B. McVay III | |
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McVay talks to war correspondents in Guam about the sinking of his ship in August 1945 | |
| Birth name | Charles Butler McVay III |
| Born | August 31, 1898 Ephrata, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. |
| Died | November 6, 1968 (aged 70) Litchfield, Connecticut, U.S.A. |
| Place of burial | Bayou Liberty, Louisiana, U.S.A. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1920–1949 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | USS Indianapolis (CA-35) |
| Battles/wars | World War II
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| Awards | Silver Star Purple Heart Navy Unit Commendation |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth “Kinau” Wilder
(m. 1924; div. 1936)Louise Claytor
(m. 1936; died 1961)Vivian Brown (m. 1961) |
| Children | Kimo Wilder McVay Charles Butler McVay IV |
The testimony of the Japanese commander who sank his ship also seemed to exonerate McVay. After years of mental health problems, McVay took his own life aged 70 years. 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.