Project 888
Name: John Irwin ORR Jr.
Rank / Rating: LT.-LieutenantService #: 121151 DOB: Jul 17, 1917 From: Pittsburg, PA Parents: Went Aboard: In April 1945 Age When Ship Went Down: 28 years, 0 months, 13 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Dorian Jaye |
 ORR, John I Jr. |
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A Facebook Posting from Dorian Jaye was submitted to share that LAS Lt. John Irwin Orr mailed his last letter home on July 20, 1945. The envelope that contained that letter had been signed by one of the ship's wartime censors who happened to be a friend and roommate of Lt. Orr. The censor/roommate’s was Lt. Michael R. Pessolano who was also lost at sea.
A copy of the Facebook submission is posted below.
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 By Patricia Stephens (Admin)
Richard F. Newcomb, in his book, Abandon Ship, provides details of John's last few minutes aboard the ship. Although heartbreaking, it tells the story of a man who was committed to the ship and crew and would draw his last breath while continuing his duties, seeing that everything was done that possibly could be and against all odds.
John had "been aboard only since April" but was a "seasoned officer." He had been at sea three years, and just before coming to Indianapolis had served on USS Cooper DD-695 which was torpedoed and sunk in Ormoc Bay. He for one knew war was no game.
John was the OOD (Officer of the Deck) and one of 13 men standing watch on the bridge on July 30th when Indianapolis was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58. "Nearly everyone on the bridge was thrown to the deck by the first blast, then dashed again to the deck or bulkhead by the second explosion." But, there was no panic on the bridge. Orr steadied the helmsman and the talker.
The bosun's mate of the watch, Coxswain Edward H. Keys, told Orr, "Everything is dead on the sound system, sir." "Go below and pass the word 'All hands topside,'" Orr shouted. No one was sure what just happened to the ship. Some thought the boiler room exploded. Orr thought back to his time on board Cooper. He knew the sound of a torpedo thud as it hit a ship and what it was like to have a ship sink from underneath him.
Captain McVay, stark naked, made his way from his cabin to the bridge and called to Orr, "Do you have any reports?" Orr informed him, "No, sir. I have lost all communications. I have tried to stop the engines. I don't know whether the order has ever gotten through to the engine room."
McVay informed Orr that he would "send down word to get out a distress message." He was not alarmed at this point because the ship was still riding as she should with only a slight list. As he turned to get his clothes from his cabin, he said to Orr, "See what information you can get."
Lt. CMD Casey Moore had left the bridge immediately after the explosions to assess the damage. McVay was back on the bridge when Moore returned and informed the captain and Orr that the damage was severe. McVay was in disbelief. He sent Moore back to reassess the damage. Moore left the bridge, never to return.
McVay, asked Orr, "Have you any word from the radio room yet on whether they've gotten off a message?" "No, sir, no word yet" responded Orr. Jack Janney appeared from his cabin and McVay sent him to the radio shack to get out a distress message. Janney went down the ladder, never to return.
Bugler First Class Donald F. Mack arrived on the bridge and reported to Orr who instructed him to "stand by." Orr told his talker, "try the engine room again and see if you can raise anybody." Then, he ordered the messenger of the watch to go below to the after engine room and tell them to secure the engines.
"Mack, go behind the bridge and get us some life jackets," Orr shouted. Mack returned with two and handed one to Orr.
Commander Joe Flynn came to the bridge and informed McVay that the damage was severe and "we are definitely going down". He recommended "we abandon ship." McVay agreed and told Flynn to pass the word. Flynn left the bridge for the last time.
Only eight minutes had passed since the torpedo hits. Although the ship's forward speed had slowed, water was fiercely flooding the compartments through the damaged bow which was almost ripped away. The flooding was worse midship where the second torpedo had hit. Fires engulfed the ship.
McVay saw several men struggling to get to the lifelines and yelled to them, "don't go over the side unless you have a life jacket. I think she may stay here a minute or two (referring to the list of the ship). Get the floater nets against the stack." Orr was still on the bridge, clinging to the splinter shield as the ship listed but determined to perform his duty. He yelled at the men, "That's the captain talking; get the floater nets."
Indy was continuing to list. At a little past 25 degrees, Orr turned to Mack, who was still standing quietly, waiting for orders. "Better go over the side, Mack."
Indy took a sudden list to starboard, about 60 degrees. There would be no recovery. Less than a minute later, she rolled to 90 degrees. Some of the men still on deck slid into the water and others jumped before the fatal roll. At 90 degrees some men walked down the hull and were washed into the sea, including McVay. Whether John Orr made it into the water is not known.
A true leader and patriot was lost from us this day.
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