Orval Audry Spindle (1922 - 1945)

Born 16 Feb 1922 in McCurtain, Oklahoma, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 23 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Seaman 1st Class Orval Spindle served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 11 Sep 1942
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 1st Class Orval Spindle was Killed in Action during World War II.

Orval Spindle was awarded the Purple Heart.

Orval was born in 1922, the son of Thomas Spindle and Eva Franklin.

Orval enlisted in the navy on 11 Sep 1942, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 23 Nov 1942, where he served as Seaman 1st class.^[1]

In July 1945 the USS Indianapolis was sent on a secret mission to deliver the components of the Little Boy atomic bomb to Tinian Island without an escort, on the return trip, still without escort, it was attacked by a Japanese submarine. The USS Indianapolis sank in 12 minutes on 30 Jul 1945 with some 300 of the 1,195 crewmen aboard going down with the ship. With few lifeboats and many without life jackets, only 316 of the nearly 900 men set adrift survived the 4 days in shark infested water before rescue. Orval was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3][4]

Orval is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[5][6]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30418893:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=fc29151f46c9a40a1f85751e1df5319b&_phsrc=aHw2&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/61442:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=9223586dd19fd1203df52008aacf0ba1&_phsrc=EzO8614&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/109926:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=9223586dd19fd1203df52008aacf0ba1&_phsrc=EzO8615&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3321:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=9223586dd19fd1203df52008aacf0ba1&_phsrc=EzO8616&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194080120/orval-audry-spindle: accessed 10 July 2023), memorial page for Orval Audry Spindle (16 Feb 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194080120, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56750445/orval-audry-spindle: accessed 10 July 2023), memorial page for S1 Orval Audry Spindle (16 Feb 1922–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56750445, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540)

• Orval is included on the USS Indianapolis in World War II Wikitree Space Page https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:USS_Indianapolis_%28CA-35%29_in_World_War_II
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCWZ-Y9Y : accessed 11 July 2023), Orvil A Spindle in household of Garvin Spindle, Taliaferro, Marshall, Oklahoma
• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:KWJD-R5K : Fri Jun 16 07:40:12 UTC 2023), Entry for Thomas Spindle and Ester Spindle, 1940
• "Oklahoma, School Records, 1895-1968," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2KZ-WQGV : 17 March 2018), Orvil Spinddle, 1934; citing School enrollment, Coleman, Johnston, Oklahoma