Last living USS Indianapolis survivor Harold Bray turns 99 with monument dedication
Harold Bray, the last living survivor of the USS Indianapolis sinking—the greatest loss of life at sea in U.S. military history—turned 99 on June 13, 2026. The Benicia Community Foundation and City of Benicia, California, honored him with a final dedication of a life-sized bronze statue first unveiled in 2023. The USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, sinking in 12 minutes. Of 1,195 crew, 316 survived five days in shark-infested waters. Bray later became a police detective in Benicia, known for helping at-risk youth.
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Last living USS Indianapolis survivor Harold Bray turns 99
Harold Bray, the last living survivor of the USS Indianapolis sinking—the greatest loss of life at sea in American military history—turned 99 on June 13, 2026. The Benicia Community Foundation and the City of Benicia, California, honored him with a final dedication of a monument featuring a life-sized bronze statue of Bray, first unveiled in 2023. The USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, sinking in 12 minutes. Of the 1,195 crew, only 316 survived, enduring five days in shark-infested waters with extreme heat, cold, and dehydration. Bray, who had been on the ship only two weeks, recalled the horror of the ordeal. After the war, he became a police detective in Benicia, known for helping troubled youth. The monument project was a community effort, and Bray's statue includes a detail of his wristwatch stopped at the time he hit the water.
Military TimesLast living USS Indianapolis survivor turns 99
Harold Bray, the last living survivor of the USS Indianapolis sinking—the greatest loss of life at sea in American military history—turned 99 on June 13, 2026. The Benicia Community Foundation and the City of Benicia, California, honored him with a final dedication of a monument featuring a life-sized bronze statue of Bray, first unveiled in 2023. The USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, sinking in 12 minutes. Of the 1,195 crew, only 316 survived, with many dying from shark attacks, dehydration, and exposure over five days in the Philippine Sea. Bray, who had been on the ship only two weeks, recalled the horrific ordeal. After the war, he became a police detective in Benicia, known for helping troubled youth. The monument project was a community effort, and Bray's statue includes details like his wristwatch stopped at the time he hit the water.
Navy TimesLast Living USS Indianapolis Survivor Harold Bray Turns 99
Harold Bray, the last living survivor of the USS Indianapolis sinking—the greatest loss of life at sea in American military history—turned 99 on June 13, 2026. On July 30, 1945, the heavy cruiser was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sank in 12 minutes, killing 879 of 1,195 crew. Bray, then a seaman second class who had been aboard only two weeks, survived five nights and four days in the shark-infested Philippine Sea. He was among 316 rescued. The Benicia Community Foundation and City of Benicia, California, honored Bray with a monument dedication ceremony on his 99th birthday, finalizing a project begun in 2023. A life-sized bronze statue of Bray features details like his wristwatch stopped at the time he hit the water. After the war, Bray became a police detective in Benicia, known for helping at-risk youth. He attributes his survival to recognizing the Navy pilot who spotted the survivors.
Navy TimesLast living USS Indianapolis survivor Harold Bray turns 99, honored with monument completion
Harold Bray, the last living survivor of the USS Indianapolis sinking, turned 99 on June 13, 2026. The Benicia Community Foundation and the City of Benicia, California, held a final dedication ceremony for a monument honoring Bray and the ship's crew. The monument, including a life-sized bronze statue of Bray, was first unveiled in 2023. The USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, sinking in 12 minutes. Of the 1,195 crew, only 316 survived, making it the greatest loss of life at sea in U.S. military history. Survivors endured five days in shark-infested waters, with up to 150 killed by sharks. Bray, who had been on the ship only two weeks, later became a police detective in Benicia, known for helping troubled youth. The ceremony marked the completion of the years-long monument project.
Navy TimesLast living USS Indianapolis survivor Harold Bray turns 99
Harold Bray, the last living survivor of the USS Indianapolis sinking, turned 99 on June 13, 2026. The Benicia Community Foundation and the City of Benicia, California, honored him with a final dedication of a monument featuring a life-sized bronze statue of Bray, first unveiled in 2023. The USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, sinking in 12 minutes and killing approximately 879 of the 1,195 crew—the greatest loss of life at sea in U.S. military history. Bray, who had been on the ship only two weeks, survived five nights and four days in the Philippine Sea amid shark attacks, dehydration, and exposure. He was rescued on August 2, 1945, after being spotted by a Navy pilot. After the war, Bray became a police detective in Benicia, known for helping at-risk youth. The article includes his personal recollections and community tributes.
Military TimesLast living USS Indianapolis survivor turns 99
Harold Bray, the last living survivor of the USS Indianapolis sinking, turned 99 on June 13, 2026. The heavy cruiser was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, sinking in 12 minutes and claiming 879 lives—the greatest loss of life at sea in American military history. Bray, then a seaman second class, was among 316 survivors who endured five days in shark-infested waters. A monument featuring a life-sized bronze statue of Bray was completed in Benicia, California, on his birthday. After the war, Bray served as a police detective and is remembered for his community work and humor. The article includes his personal recollections of the disaster and the role of Navy pilot Wilbur 'Chuck' Gwinn in their rescue.
Military Times