Project 888

USS Indianapolis CA-35

Lost At Sea

Harry BENNING

Name: Harry BENNING Rank / Rating: S1-Seaman First Class Service #: 372 51 17 DOB: Sep 15, 1923 From: Leyden, CO Parents: Harry H. and Augusta Schoeder Benning Went Aboard: Apr 02, 1943 Age When Ship Went Down: 21 years, 10 months, 15 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin)	BENNING, Harry
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Harry was born Sept 15, 1923 in Denver, CO, the second child of Harry H. and Augusta "Gussie" Schoeder Benning. His German heritage was from his both his parents. Harry H. was born in Germany as were his parents. Augusta was born in Kansas, but her father was born in Germany as were his parents. Harry H. Benning married Gussie Schroeder on May 16, 1921 in Denver CO. Both were living in Denver, Denver Co., CO. She may have been Harry's second wife. Their first child was a daughter named Ruth. The 1930 census shows the family living in Aurora Township, Arapahoe County, CO. Harry Benning was 43 years old and working as a manager of a farm. Gussie was 29 years old, Ruth was 8 and Harry was 6 years old. The 1934 Denver City Directory lists Harry H. Benning (Augusta), h 26 S Adams (Street). Times were difficult for the family in 1940. The census notes Harry Benning, age 53, had been out of work for months and had recently found work with the public emergency works project driving a truck. Augusta was 39, Ruth was 18 and working at "odd jobs" at a local service station. Harry was 16 and not working. These hard times may have influenced Harry's thoughts of a career in the US Navy.
Harry registered for the draft at Littleton, Arapahoe Co., CO on June 30, 1942. This was the first day that an amendment to the selective service law required the registration of all men age 18-20. When he registered, Harry was 18 years old and working at "Buckley Field" in Denver. The type work he was involved in is not known but he would be witness to a rapidly expanded program to aid in the war effort. Formerly known as Lowry Field, it was designated by the War Department as Buckley Field on June 14, 1941 and would become a training station for armament and photography schools. After the rapid construction of classrooms, barracks and administrative buildings, the school opened on April 1, 1942 and classes began July 6th. The Army Air Forces Technical Training Command notified officials that training operations for armorers needed to greatly expand in order to graduate over 20,000 students by January 1943. Rather than waiting to be drafted, three months after registering Harry left his job at Buckley Field and enlisted in the permanent US Navy on Dec 9, 1942 at Denver. The Navy would be his career, as well as his future. He was entering a world he probably knew very little about but would offer experiences he could only have imagined. Also, the Navy offered a good salary, plenty of food and housing. Harry would not only be able to care for himself, but have extra money to help support his family. His record of enlistment showed his name as Harry (n) Benning. (n) was the Navy's notation for a sailor who had no middle name. Note that on his draft registration card Harry indicated he had no middle name, but noted he was Harry Benning, Jr. Some researchers believe he was named after his father, Harry Henry Benning, but the Navy did not believe this to be true. Without a middle name, legally he was Harry Benning and is how he is named in every USN record. From Denver, Harry was ordered to the Navy Training Station, Farragut, ID where he was received Dec 17, 1942 as a AS (Apprentice Seaman). Dec 25, 1942 was most likely the first Christmas he had ever spent away from home. Harry performed well in training and was quickly advanced to S2c (Seaman 2nd class) on Feb 27, 1943. In just one month he would receive his first assignment for sea duty. He traveled to San Francisco and forward to Mare Island, Vallejo CA, where he walked the gangway on April 2, 1943 to go aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35. His reaction to seeing Indy for the first time was most assuredly the same as other new crewmembers - she was the most beautiful ship they had ever seen. Indianapolis had returned to Mare Island on March 19, 1943 after service in the Aleutian Islands. She was in dry dock for overhaul and refitting. Many men left the ship for other assignments and new members came aboard at the same time as Harry. As a S2c, he was most likely assigned to the deck crew. On March 31, Indy left dry dock and moored at Mare Island. She steamed out to sea for trials and it was determined more work was needed. She returned to dry dock for overnight repairs. She finally left Mare Island on May 4th but her new crew was not yet ready for sea duty. Training exercises were held off the coast of CA from May 5th to the 14th. The next morning Harry would head to sea for Adak, Alaska. He was leaving the blue warm waters of the Pacific and could not have imagined the weather conditions he would soon experience. Indy arrived at Adak on May 27th where she joined the First Fleet, Task Force 16. The weather in the Pacific and Bering Sea was dreadfully cold and unforgiving. The seas rolled with torrents of rain, high winds, sleet and snow. Sudden strong storms presented a constant threat to the ship and her crew. Harry took part in his first battle action when Indianapolis joined the other small ships of the task force and trained her 8-inch guns on Little Kiska, Island on Aug 2nd, destroying shore-based Japanese hideouts and other facilities. As part of TG 16.6.2, on Aug 12th, Indy launched her four planes to serve as spotters shortly before she trained her main battery on Gertrude Cove, Kiska Island. She then trained her 5" battery at Bukti Point on Kiska. There was no return fire and all planes were recovered. Although the battle actions had ended, Indy remained on patrol and in a supportive roll in the Aleutians. She finally returned to anchor in Kuluk Bay, Adak, AK, on Aug 22nd. Her actions contributed to the US reclaiming and occupying Attu and other islands in the Aleutians. On Aug 25th she departed for San Francisco. Basically, Harry's feet had not been on land for almost four months, but he had earned his first battle star. At San Francisco there would be no time for leave or much time ashore. Indy sailed for Pearl Harbor on Sept 7th. She would remain there and conduct training exercises until early November. Harry headed for further battle action when Indy left Pearl Harbor on Nov 10th bound for the Gilbert Islands, Central Pacific, and "Operation Galvanic" against Tarawa and Makin islands. On 19 November 1943, Indianapolis, in a force of cruisers bombarded Tarawa and next day pounded Makin. The ship then returned to Tarawa and acted as a fire-support ship for the landings. That day her guns splashed an enemy plane and shelled enemy strong points as valiant landing parties struggled against fanatical Japanese defenders in an extremely bloody and costly battle. She continued this role until the leveled island was declared secure 3 days later. [DANFS] returned to Pearl Harbor on Dec 11, 1943 where 366 enlisted men and 52 officers disembarked to remain at Pearl until Indy returned. Harry was one of the lucky men. All were assigned temporary duty with the Commander, Fourteenth Naval District. Indy took aboard 698 passengers and steamed for San Francisco where she arrived on Dec 18, 1943 and disembarked her passengers before heading to Mare Island, CA. Indy departed Mare Island on New Year's Day for San Francisco. She stayed only long enough to embark officers and passengers for transport to Pearl Harbor where she arrived on Jan 7th, 1944. The Indy crewmembers who had remained at Pearl came back aboard. She departed the harbor bound for the Marshall Islands to aid in the actions against Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls in late January. Two days before arriving at Kwajalein, Harry was advanced to S1c, Feb 1, 1944. His fourteen months of USN service had paid off. With continued dedication and time he knew he could advance to the rate of petty officer. Indy's service ended in the Marshalls after supporting the occupation at Eniwetok which was secured on March 2nd. However, she remained in the area until March 22nd. Steaming to the Western Carolinas, Indy took part in the raids on Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai. The day before she began the bombardment of Palau, Indy opened fire on an enemy torpedo plane approaching the ship on the port beam at close range. The plane burst into flames, crossed about 150 yards ahead and was seen to crash into the water about 1,000 yards on the starboard beam. No doubt Harry celebrated this victory with his shipmates. On April 10th the ship left Majuro for Pearl Harbor and on April 22nd she arrived back in San Francisco, CA. Harry was not likely granted furlough because Indy would be in port only eight days before steaming back to Pearl Harbor, May 1st. When Indy returned to the Pacific in early June, the Central Pacific Force in which she formerly served was now designated the Pacific 5th Fleet and continued under the command of now Admiral Spruance. This would be a period of brutal service for Harry. From June to Sept 29, 1944, Indy took part in the capture and occupation of Saipan, Battle of the Philippine Sea, the capture and occupation of Guam, the capture and occupation of Tinian in the Northern Marianas Islands and on to the Western Caroline Islands operation for the capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands. Harry arrived back at Mare Island, CA on Oct 19, 1944 where Indy underwent overhaul following her long Pacific service. He would spend Christmas and the beginning of the new year on dry land and likely was granted leave before Indy departed on Jan 3, 1945 for San Francisco, then San Diego and forward to Pearl Harbor. On Jan 20th, Adm. Spruance came back aboard and his flag was raised. Harry arrived with his ship on Feb 1, 1945 at Ulithi Atoll, two weeks before she made her first attack on Tokyo on Feb 15th. Throughout the action, Indianapolis played her vital role of support ship. She sailed on to Iwo Jima where action began on the 19th. On that day several Japanese planes attacked the Task Group. Indy was credited with one kill. Harry watched as the 5" gun blew off the tail section and the plane tumbled into the sea. The ship assisted with another kill, although others ships were firing, so credit was not given for a kill. At Iwo Jima, Indy did her share of the bombardment of the island where Japanese soldiers hid in and attacked US forces from subterranean tunnels. She moved back to Tokyo to Honshu and Nansei Shoto for more bombardment of the islands and remained until the operation ended on Mar 1st. The pre-invasion bombardment of Okinawa began Mar 24th and for 7 days Indianapolis either supported operations or bombarded beach defenses. Enemy aircraft filled the sky attacking the ships. Harry was called to General Quarters several times each day as planes circled the ship and attacked ships nearby. Indy shot down two of the planes and assisted in splashing two others. This was a day that Harry would never forget. On 31 March, the day before the invasion, the ship was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane. Nine men were killed and 20 injured. There is no record that Harry was injured. Indy limped back to Mare Island, CA, for repairs and refitting, where she would remain for two-and-a-half months. Most assuredly, Harry was granted leave to visit his family. Harry had earned the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with 1 silver star, representing 5 bronze stars, and 4 bronze stars to represent the 9 battle stars awarded to Indianapolis during his time on board. On July 4th, Indy held an "open house" from 2-4 p.m. for family members of the crew. Many wives and girlfriends had moved to the Mare Island area and family members visited often after learning the ship would be in port for at least five months. Most visitors had only seen the ship from afar so there was great excitement in the air. Whether Harry had family visiting that day is unknown, but he would still enjoy the festivities, while proudly displaying his ribbons on his uniform. Katherine Moore described the event saying "ice cream and cake were served and children were given balloons. Small souvenirs were given away - pins, buttons, pens with the ship's name and even small bars of soap with US Navy on the paper wrapping. Afterwards, many families had picnics and barbecues and there were fireworks that night." The joy of the 4th of July ended the next day when the crew was informed Indy would be leaving port in 10 days. Men on leave were sent telegrams to return to the ship immediately. No one was told why they were departing so quickly. Top-secret cargo was loaded on board for delivery to the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. No one on board knew the contents of their cargo when they departed on July 16, 1945. After the delivery, Indianapolis departed Tinian and after a short stop at Apra Habor, Guam, sailed for Leyte, her final destination. She would never arrive. Half-way there, on July 30, 1945, Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Whether Harry made it off the ship and into the water is not known. He was 2 months away from his 22nd birthday. Harry was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. Harry, you are not forgotten. Notes: Harry's sister, Ruth, married twice. She died in 1957 leaving a husband and 4 children. Her obituary listed her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Benning of Denver. Mr. and Mrs. Benning had lost their only two children 12 years apart. Some researchers believe Harry's mother was Augusta Schroeder Detty Benning. The Social Security Application and Claims Index, 1936-2007, shows Augusta Schroeder, daughter of Henry Schroeder and Hermina Guenther. Name Changes: Jan 25, 1967 listed as Augusta Benning March 1972 listed as Augusta Schroeder Detty 11 July 1989 listed as Augusta Detty The above listings indicate Augusta Benning remarried after Harry's death in 1968 to a Mr. Detty. No marriage record was located by this researcher. FindAGrave shows a very confusing file for Harry Henry Benning. It notes he was married three times. It shows his second wife, Augusta Schroeder Benning linked to Augusta Schroeder Detter but her husband is the man who married her daughter, Fredrick William Gool.

Source Credits

State of Colorado, Division of Vital Statistics, Marriage Record Report; No. 10470; recorded Book H, page 41; citing Harry Benning and Gussie Schroeder 1930 US Census, CO, Arapahoe Co, Aurora Twsp, Prect. 16, HH #53; citing family of Harry Benning Denver City Directory, 1934; The Gazetteer Publishing & Printing Co. 1940 US Census, CO, Denver Co., Denver. HH #606, West Iliff street; citing family of Harry H. Benning USSF, Buckley Space Force Base; History of Buckley Air Force Base, CO https://www.buckley.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1233614/buckley-field-in-world-war-ii-part-i/ Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, enacted September 16, 1940. Amended December 20, 1941 to require registration for ages 18-20 years. https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1942/december/some-selective-service-aspects-interest-navy Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; CO, p. 2.; citing Parents Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Benning, 6335 E. Parker Rd, Denver, Co. Bridgeport News-Blade, (Nebraska), Thur, Aug 15, 1957, p. 9; citing obituary of Ruth Gool, wife of Fred Gool of Bridgeport. Moore, Katherine (1991), "Goodbye, Indy Maru"; Lori Publications, Knoxville, TN.

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