USS Indianapolis Lost At Sea

USS Indianapolis CA-35

Lost At Sea

Charles John CROMLING Jr.

Name: Charles John CROMLING Jr.

Rank / Rating: PLTSGT-Platoon Sergeant
Service #: 879384
DOB: Apr 02, 1919
From: Elyria, OH
Parents: Mr and Mrs Charles John Cromling, Sr.
Went Aboard: Jul 01, 1944
Age When Ship Went Down: 26 years, 3 months, 28 days
Spouse: Helen Louise Elemes
Children: Charles John Cromling, III
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin)
Date Posted: Feb 9, 2026

Charles John CROMLING, PLTSGT-Platoon Sergeant

CROMLING, Charles J Jr.

Charles was the son of Charles John, Sr., and Christine Engles Cromling. He was born Oct 25, 1919 in Elyria, OH and lived there all his life. The 1930 and 1940 census shows Charles in the home of his parents in Elyria City, Lorain Co., OH. He had an older brother, Richard, and younger brother, William, both of whom would later serve in the USMC. Charles married on July 4, 1942* to Helen Louise Elemes of Elyria, OH. She was the daughter of James and Grace Connolly Elemes. A year after his marriage, Charles enlisted in the USMC on 10 Aug 1943.

His name is recorded on the muster roll of the 2nd Recruit Battalion, Training Regiment Recruit Depot, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, CA for the month of Oct, 1943. On Oct 15th he was promoted to a temporary rank (not stated). This seems to imply that Charles had completed basic training. The following day, he was transferred to Sea School, Headquarters Battalion, Recruit Depot, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, CA. He was received that same day. However, he was granted furlough from October 16-26th, 1943. Sea School was to prepare marines for shipboard service rather than land service in an infantry regiment, for example. Charles would have training which emphasized antiaircraft gunnery skills. In addition to manning guns during battle action aboard a ship, Marines provided ship security at sea and in port, manned the brig on board, provided security for and acted as an orderlies to the captain, as well as any flag commander on board. Also, they conducted ceremonial and honor guard services for the ship. No records were located that show his location during Nov and Dec, 1943. It can only be assumed he continued training at Sea School during this time. The length of training varied during the war, but was normally 8 weeks. Indianapolis was at Mare Island, Vallejo, CA, when Charles reported for duty. Most likely he went aboard at the end of Dec, right before she departed on Jan 1, 1944. His name appears on the January muster roll of the USMC Detachment as a Private First Class (PVT). He would serve on board the ship until July 1945. After a brief stop at Pearl Harbor, Indianapolis steamed to the Marshall Islands. He was about to participate in his first battle engagement and would be in the Pacific three months before returning to the US. He aided in manning Indy's guns at Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls during the occupation from Jan 29 to Feb 8, 1944. This was followed on Feb 17th through March 2nd in action for the occupation of Eniwetok Atoll. It was on to the western Carolina Islands for the raids on Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai from March 30th to April 1st. On April 10th, Indy departed for Pearl Harbor, then on to San Francisco where she arrived April 21st. It was a quick turnaround and there was not likely enough time for furlough. Indy was back at sea on May 1st and arrived in Pearl Harbor on the 6th. On the 26th, the ship departed and after short stops in the Marshall Islands and training exercises along the way, she reached Majuro Atoll on June 2nd. Admiral Spruance came aboard on the 8th and the following day Indy departed to join TF 58.2 to participate in the capture and occupation of Saipan. Remaining in the Mariana Islands, she was present for the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June and the capture and occupation of Guam and the capture of Tinian in July. There was no rest for the Marine gun crew. In Sept Indy sailed to the Western Carolines Islands for the capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands where she participated in shore bombardments that began on the 11th. Indy sailed back to Pearl Harbor then forward to Mare Island, Vallejo, CA where she arrived Oct 19th for overhaul and repairs. The muster roll shows Charles was granted leave from Oct 18-31. Since the ship did not arrive at Mare Island until the 19th, his leave may have been extended, but this is not recorded in the records. The 18th may have been a typographical error. Charles returned home to Elyria, OH, to visit his wife and parents. The local newspaper announced that "his family surprised him" on his birthday on Oct 25th. Indianapolis returned to sea on Jan 3, 1945 bound for the Pacific. The USMC muster roll of Jan 1945 records Charles was promoted to Sgt (Temp Appt) from Corp (Temp Appt) on Jan 11th, two days after Indy arrived at Pearl Harbor. In early Feb, Indy would participate in the 5th Fleet raids against Honshu and the Nansei Shoto in the Ryukyu Islands then forwarding to the Volcano Islands where she would join in the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima. Back to the Ryukyu Islands, the ship participated in the final raids on Honshu and Nansei Shoto then on to the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in March 1945. It was during the operations at Okinawa that Indianapolis was hit by a kamikaze plane on Mar 31st. Nine crewmembers were killed and twenty injured. Charles was not among those injured. He was rewarded for his battle action when he was promoted to Sergeant in April 1945. On Wednesday, May 23, 1945, a news article in his hometown paper announced that Charles was home on a 15-day leave and visiting with his wife and parents at Lodi Street. A week later an article announced that relatives and friends gathered "to honor Sgt. and Mrs. Charles J. Cromling, Jr., who left today for the West coast. Sgt. Cromling has been home on leave...... Mrs. Cromling will remain with her husband while he is in this country." Indianapolis was in dry dock for repairs, overhaul and refitting for over two months. It was a common practice for wives to join their husbands during this time. They rented apartments or lived in officer housing provided by the USMC. On July 15th, the day before Indianapolis departed Mare Island, Charles was promoted to Platoon Sergeant. This was a day for celebration for Charles and Helen. With rumors of the war ending soon, Helen would remain at Mare Island to await his return. But, Charles would not return and would never see his son, Charles John, who would be born about eight months later. Charles was one of 39 US Marines serving on board USS Indianapolis CA-35 on July 30, 1945 when she was sunk by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58. Thirty Marines were lost at sea including his hometown friend and fellow gunner Spino, Frank J., PFC. Charles was entitled to wear the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with one silver star and two bronze star devices representing the seven battle engagements in which he participated. One silver star represented five bronze stars. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. Charles, you are not forgotten. A cenotaph was placed in St. Mary Cemetery in Elyria. It is a part of the headstone of his parents. A sad but heartwarming notice appeared in The Chronicle-Telegram on July 16, 1946. Captain and Mrs. Wayne C. Stauffer of Kelley Field, TX, visited Charles' wife, Helen, and his parents on July 14th. The Stauffers were the parents of Lt. Edward Stauffer, USMC, who served with Charles on board Indianapolis. Edward was lost at sea also when the ship sank. One has to wonder if the two families knew each other prior to the visit. Many stories have been told about families reaching out to each other after the tragedy. Shortly after the visit with the Stauffers, Charles John Cromling, Sr. passed away. Helen died of a heart attack on Feb 8, 1968 at her home in Allison Park, Allegheny Co., PA, at age 45. Note: *The date of the marriage is not verified.

Source Credits

1930 US Census, OH, Lorain Co., Elyria, Dist. 0044; HH #323 1940 US Census, OH, Lorain Co., Elyria, Dist. 47-54; HH #548 USMC Muster Roll, Marine Detachment, USS Indianapolis CA-35, 1944-1945. The Chronicle Telegram (Elyria, OH), Thur, May 31, 1945, p. 8; citing Cromling home on leave. The Chronicle-Telegram, (Elyria, OH), Sat, Sept 29, 1945, p. 1; citing death of Charles John Cromling. The Chronicle-Telegram, (Elyria, OH), Thur, Oct 4, 1945, p. 1; citing Charles J. Cromling KIA. Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. MT-WY; OH, p. 9; citing wife as Helen L. Cromling. The Chronicle Telegram (Elyria, OH), Fri 19 July 1946, p. D-2; citing the obituary of Charles John Cromling, Sr. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56764839/charles_john-cromling: accessed August 23, 2025), memorial page for PlSgt Charles John Cromling Jr. (25 Oct 1919-30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56764839, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

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