The second telegram confirmed the fears for families of 879 missing crew members.

The dreaded second telegram began to arrive in late August and September confirming fears. 879 telegrams announced the "DISAPPEARANCE" of each son/husband. . .MISSING. . . with NO HOPE OF SURVIVAL. Words that took the reader's breath and last hope, followed by a life-long search for answers to this tragedy and grief that continues in new generations to this day.

In California the telegram of death ended Edith's six weeks of marriage to Thomas Hancock, PFC, USMC.

Morgan Guenther, EM 3/c left behind his bride of two weeks.

In Mare Island, California, Leonard Woods, CWO, had been happy that his wife of two years came to California to be with him while Indianapolis was being repaired from the Kamikaze attack. On July 13th Ada watched as Indianapolis pulled away from Mare Island toward Hunter's Point, waving among the crowd. She would wait at Mare Island for her husband's return. On August 13th after receiving the second telegram and overcome by heartache and despair Ada suffered a miscarriage of Leonard's child.

In Nashville, Tennessee Nickie Sedivi, age 4, walked onto her grandmother's porch hearing sounds she describes today at age 84 as "whaling sounds like no human could have made". Sounds came from Alfred Sedivi's mother and his wife holding their second telegram.

Families had hoped that the second telegram could be torn apart and tossed like confetti in joy of their son's survival. Many thought their son swam to the nearest island. Afterall, they were young - average age was 19 and strong and many had learned to swim in the creeks in rural America. Families would have lost hope if they had known the closest island was over 300 miles away. Maybe their son had been picked up by a passing ship and had amnesia.

Parent's wrote letters to Captain McVay pleading for answers -- to cancel this death notice.

Unanswerable Questions highlights the commonly asked questions by parents, provides McVay's response and background information supporting McVay's responses. Researched and written by Carl Fahnestock.

McVay's Letters contains 91 transcribed letters sent by parents to McVay pleading for information. McVay's return letters to parents are included. Transcribed by Marilyn Henry, Dawn Bollhoefer, and Brenda Hale.