Name: James Roy KIRK
Rank / Rating: SC3-Ship's Cook Third Class
Service #: 726 67 18
DOB: Aug 27, 1926
From: Chicago, Illinois
Parents: Leroy William and Ester Kirk
Went Aboard: Sep 01, 1943
Age When Ship Went Down: 18 years, 11 months, 3 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Alan J Stapel (Nephew), Lynn Sparks (Niece)
Date Posted:

Presented by Alan Stapel, Nephew honoring his uncle: I've enclosed two pictures of my Uncle Jim who was lost at sea on the USS Indianapolis. I believe these pictures were taken when he graduated from boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Academy in 1943. He was only 17 when he enlisted. (Alan Stapel, Nephew)

Presented by Lynn Sparks, great niece, honoring her uncle James Roy Kirk S3c as a presentation in the “Voices of the Lost at Sea” program at the 2018 Survivor’s Reunion: "I am Lynn Sparks. Today I am the voice of Ester Kirk, mother of lost at sea James Roy Kirk, S3C, my great uncle. His mother called her son Jim: Jim, son, you joined the navy on Decoration Day, May 31st, 1943. You left for Great Lakes training. You were home on furlough on July 22 and went back Saturday, July 31st. You were home nine days. On Tuesday, August 3rd you were shipped out to Pleasant View, California. On September 3rd you boarded USS Indianapolis. I prayed this was a good ship. I heard that it had been in several battles. I prayed again. You telephoned us on New Year’s eve on December 30th from California at 6:30 p.m. On January 2nd your ship landed in Pearl Harbor. I am not clear but I wrote down that you were in the Marshall Islands and then back to San Francisco. And then back to Pearl Harbor. I may not have these dates right but I am trying to keep up with you. After 15 months of sea duty you came home on furlough for Thanksgiving leaving again Saturday night at 9:45 p.m. Then I heard your ship left the states around July 16th, 1945. I never heard from you again. Then the telegram arrived. The rest of my life I was very bitter. I never talked about this tragedy. Relationships with my family suffered. My hurt was lifelong. I never got to say Goodbye." James was honored in VOICES OF THE LOST AT SEA program in 2018. Click on VOICES OF THE LOST AT SEA to view from Time Stamp 35:40 - 37:48.