After 77 years, Edinburg sailor on USS Indianapolis classified as ‘buried at sea’

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An Edinburg man who served on the USS Indianapolis during World War II is among 13 soldiers whose status recently changed from “unaccounted for” to “buried at sea,” nearly 77 years later, according to a Navy news release.

Ship’s Cook 3rd Class Jose Antonio Saenz enlisted in the Navy in 1943, according to Monitor newspaper archives, where he would then board the USS Indianapolis. Saenz had previously attended Edinburg High School before enlisting for the war.

Two Japanese torpedoes hit the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945, when the heavy cruiser was on its way to the Philippines from Guam. The ship sank in just 12 to 15 minutes. The Navy estimates about 300 sailors were trapped inside and went down with the vessel.

The remaining 800 sailors abandoned ship, but rescue vessels didn’t arrive for four days. Hundreds of sailors died in the interim from injuries, dehydration and shark attacks. Only 316 survived. It’s known as one of the biggest tragedies in U.S. naval history.

Map locates the wreckage of the USS Indianapolis sunk in 1945.

At the time of his death, when he was just 20 years old, Saenz left behind his wife, Eva G. Saenz, mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Francisco Saenz, and siblings, Rafaelita, Nestorita, Francisco, Ruben and Alfred, newspaper archives reported at the time.

The Navy stated in the release that there were several men who were recovered and buried at sea by responding ships. However, due to administrative errors, many of those recovered were misclassified as “missing in action” or “unaccounted for,” the Navy said in the release.

Stone suspects the names fell through bureaucratic cracks and were never followed up on.

It didn’t help that the Navy announced the loss of the ship on the same day the war ended.

“The sinking of the Indy, which would have been front page news a week earlier, was kind of relegated to one of the midsections of the newspaper,” he said.

Provisioning of the USS Indianapolis goes forward in preparation for departure April 14, 1937, from San Pedro, Calif. (Courtesy: AP Photo)

During his time working for the Navy History and Heritage Command, Rick Stone began the USS Indianapolis Burial at Sea Project — the goal of which was to resolve the misclassifications. After his retirement, Stone established the Chief Rick Stone and Family Charitable Foundation, allowing the project to continue and eventually proving 13 sailors were misclassified.

“One of my favorite quotes is ‘Poor is the nation that has no heroes but shameful is the nation who, having heroes, forgets them,’” Stone said in the release. “Our foundation will never forget the heroes of the USS Indianapolis and are proud of our role in helping thirteen families learn that the Navy went to great lengths to honor them soon after their deaths.”

At least one other Valley native was aboard the Indianapolis died in the attack. Petty Officer Max Hill of McAllen was declared dead after the ship went down. According to Monitor archives, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hill and was a graduate of McAllen High School where he was a member of the football team.

Although seven decades have passed since the sinking of the Indianapolis, Capt. Robert McMahon, director of the Navy Casualty Office, also stated in the release that “no amount of time lessens the loss” and is grateful that the Navy can provide closure for 13 families.


Associated Press writer Audrey McAvoy contributed to this report.