USS Indianapolis KIA dog tag

[bellasilva]

My most recent purchase, Lieutenant Junior Grade Philip Arthur Mcguirk was killed on July 30th, 1945 when the Indianapolis was struck by a torpedo from the Japanese submarine I-58. The Indianapolis went down in 12 minutes. The Indianapolis was delivering parts for the first atomic bomb to the US Air base at Tinian at the time.

 

Of the 1,196 men onboard, approximately 300 went down with the ship. The remaining 900 faced dehydration, salt water poisoning, exposure, and at daybreak, shark attacks. The survivors were spotted 4 days later, when only 317 of the remaining 900 were still alive.

[bellasilva]

Fold3 excerpt and find a grave memorial

[Brig]

Rare tag. I imagine most of them went down with the ship.

 

There is currently a movie starring Nicholas Cage as Capt McVay being filmed about the USS Indianapolis

 

Further research of this one is definitely a must!

[Garandomatic]

Amazing. Do you think it was an extra that he sent home or was stuck in amongst some effects that weren't aboard ship?

[stratasfan]

Here are some pictures of Philip McGuirk. If you haven't seen them, they might be interesting to have with your tag!

 

 

Fitchburg High School Graduation Picture of Philip McGuirk:

 

 

[DogTCollect]

Was it on ebay?

[bellasilva]

Thanks for the comments all, Elizabeth thank you as always for that great information. That'll be a nice picture to put into a shadow box with his dog tag. As far as the tag, I'd imagine this one may have been sent home with his personal effects after his death, wherever it may have been stored at this time. This tag in particular would have been issued around the time of his graduation from Midshipmen's school and no doubt never saw the Indianapolis

[Brig]

I can't imagine it was a personal affect from the ship, as he was lost at sea and I assume body never recovered

[bellasilva]

Right, I should clarify that I think it may have been part of his personal effects that were stored elsewhere, not on the ship, as this never would've been recovered if it went down with the ship.

[muddyboots]

Great tag and a very tragic history.

[bellasilva]

Absolutely James. I'll be ordering his file probably today and will post it once it arrives

[bellasilva]

Not to detract from my own thread, but in contacting the seller of the tag, she advised me that she received a message AFTER the tag had been sold, offering a lot more money than what it had been sold for, and asking her to cancel the sale. I know this happens, and happens often, but it's sad.

[TheMariner]

So she didnt honor the sale to you ?

[bellasilva]

Oh she did, but just the thought of it ticks me off.

[USdog]

Not to detract from my own thread, but in contacting the seller of the tag, she advised me that she received a message AFTER the tag had been sold, offering a lot more money than what it had been sold for, and asking her to cancel the sale. I know this happens, and happens often, but it's sad.

 

That's really aweful. It could even have been a forum member lurking here, which is scary (was not me!!). You should take it up with eBay and they can get her in BIG trouble. You have the proof of her saying it too.

[zsmith]

Oh she did, but just the thought of it ticks me off.

Good on her for honoring the sale. I'm a fan of militaria but my main collection is pre-WWII baseball cards. One lesson I've learned over the years is to NEVER post about a recent purchase until you have the item in your hands. People will try to back door you.

[bellasilva]

Good on her for honoring the sale. I'm a fan of militaria but my main collection is pre-WWII baseball cards. One lesson I've learned over the years is to NEVER post about a recent purchase until you have the item in your hands. People will try to back door you.

That's a lesson I thought I had learned in the past, but with some of these super nice purchases the impulse takes over and I can't wait to share it with the forum. Granted it could've just been another potential buyer with access to ancestry or fold3 who was a second too late and isn't a member here, but this near-miss is more than enough to convince me not to post anything until it's safely in my hands

[bellasilva]

That's really aweful. It could even have been a forum member lurking here, which is scary (was not me!!). You should take it up with eBay and they can get her in BIG trouble. You have the proof of her saying it too.

No worries man I know it wasn't you lol, she went through with my sale though, so no problem there. But that was a close call

[USdog]

Woops. I thought you said she wasn't honoring it. Good on her for doing that, I agree.

[bellasilva]

The tag came in today Lots of honest wear on this one

[bellasilva]

I received McGuirk's personnel file a couple of days ago and selected a few screenshots that I thought may be of some interest to other members here. Included are a typed letter from Captain McVay regarding McGuirk's death (it's been determined that this was sort of a mass produced letter, not quite unique, as another member here with a USMC KIA tag from the Indy also received this letter, almost word-for-word).

 

Also an August 29, 1945 letter to McGuirk's parents stating he has been placed on the missing crew list, McGuirk's Midshipmen's School diploma, and two pictures, presumably upon his commisioning.

 

I was also able to determine that McGuirk served in an instructor capacity for 2 years prior to boarding the Indianapolis on May 6, 1945, so he spent nearly 3 months on board before she was sunk..

[bellasilva]

More from the file..

[bellasilva]

Last one for now

[Thor996]

That's a great piece of history you have to treasure.

[Garandomatic]

Man... Here's to 'em.