USS Indianapolis Lost At Sea

USS Indianapolis CA-35

Lost At Sea

Emerson David LUHMAN

Name: Emerson David LUHMAN

Rank / Rating: MM3-Machinist's Mate Third Class
Service #: 820 23 73
DOB: Mar 11, 1923
From: Weatherly, PA
Parents: John and Nora M. Heiney Luhman
Went Aboard: Jan 19, 1944
Age When Ship Went Down: 22 years, 4 months, 19 days
Spouse: Mattie Joyce Evans Luhman
Children: Joyce Ann Luhman
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin)
Date Posted:

LUHMAN, Emerson D

Emerson was one of eight children born to John and Nora M. Heiney Luhman of Weatherly, Carbon Co., PA. His siblings were John Kenneth, Roger James, Edward Charles, Grace Kathryn, Dorothy Miriam, Arlene May, and Ruth Naomi Luhman. He graduated from Weatherly High School. He was a member of the Weatherly Reformed church and before entering the Navy was employed at the Bethlehem Steel Corp., Bethlehem. He registered for the draft on June 30, 1942, in Northampton, PA. On July 31, 1943, Emerson married Mattie Joyce Evans, daughter of Giles Evans, of Weatherly.

Less than three weeks after his marriage, Emerson enlisted in the USN, August 18, 1943, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. The next day, he reported to US Naval Training Station, Sampson, New York, as a AS (Apprentice Seaman). He appears on the Sept 30, 1943 muster roll as a F3c (Fireman 3rd class). Emerson transferred to the US Naval Training Station Service School, Great Lakes, IL. On Dec 20, 1943 he was advanced to F2c. He was received at the Navy Barracks, Shoemaker, CA on Dec 28, 1943 for "general duty." He was noted as a F2c (MM). On Jan 10, 1944, he was ordered to the receiving station at Pearl Harbor and had advanced to F1c (MM). Emerson was transported from Shoemaker, CA to Pearl Harbor on board USS Antiqua AF-17. His new assignment was waiting for him. He went aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35 on Jan 19, 1944. There was little time for Emerson to settle into life on board. Indy left her berth at 1129 that morning. There was excitement that night when the crew was called to "Fire Quarters". Someone had placed oil soaked rags in the crew's head on the main deck aft and a fire ignited. No damage was done. On Jan 27, 1944, Indianapolis joined Task Force 58.2 sailing to the Marshall Islands to take part in "Operation Flintlock", the assault and occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls. Emerson was about to witness and take part in his first action in the Pacific. Indianapolis departed TF 58.2 to join Task Unit 53.5.2 on Jan 31, 1944. At 0805 General Quarters (GQ) was sounded in preparation for the bombardment of Roi Island. The guns sounded from 0919 to 1056 and resumed at 1306. When GQ was secured, the men had been at their battle stations for nine hours. Indy had fired 710 rounds from her 8" guns and 1,128 rounds of 5" AA ammunition. The bombardment of Roi continued the next day. The operation was a success and Indy anchored off Kwajalein on Feb 4, 1944. The Marshal Islands campaign continued with the assault and occupation of Eniwetok Atoll before ending in early March. One battle star was awarded for this campaign. Emerson received word that his wife had given birth on Feb 25, 1944. He was now the proud father of a baby girl named Joyce Ann Luhman. Despite the happy news and an unspoken desire to be home, battle action for Emerson continued. He was present for the assault and occupation of Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai in the Western Carolinas for which Indianapolis was awarded a battle star. The assault on the Marianas earned another star. Then came the capture and occupation of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands, adding another battle star. The capture and occupation of the southern Palau Islands as part of the Western Carolina Islands operation, awarded another battle star. Then, Indy entered the action at Iwo Jima Feb 14 through March 1, 1945, earning a well deserved battle star. Mid-March, Indy took part in the Okinawa Gunto operation and was awarded her last battle star. It was during the operation, March 31, 1945, that Indy sustaining damage from a Japanese kamikaze plane resulting in the deaths of seven crewmembers and injuring 20 others. She was taken out of action and returned to Mare Island, Vallejo, CA, for repairs. Emerson had been awarded a total of seven battle stars, something he could tell his daughter about when she was older. While Indy was in dry dock for repairs, Emerson was granted leave. He arrived home in June 1945 where he saw his infant daughter for the first time. Parting was too difficult, so Mattie and his daughter accompanied him back to Mare Island. When Emerson board Indianapolis to return to the Pacific he could never have imagined, at age 22, he would never again see his wife or hold his beautiful daughter. He was lost at sea when Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-58 on July 30, 1945. 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. In his hometown, his name is inscribed on the Veterans Monument in Weatherly, PA. Emerson's wife remarried in Oct 1948 to Donald W. Hudock who adopted Emerson's daughter in 1949. Joyce Ann was 5 years old. The news of Emerson's death was not the first telegram his parents had received from the Navy. Their son, John Kenneth, was in the Philippines at the time of the Japanese invasion and died in a prison camp in 1942.

Source Credits

Family Bible of John & Nora Luhman; citing birth of Emerson David Luhman, 3/11/1923. Ancestry user harful43, posted Mar 21, 2019. Standard-Speaker, (Hazelton, PA), Tue, AAug 3, 1943, p. 7; citing marriage of Emerson Lahman to Mattie Joyce Evans. The Standard-Speaker, Wed, May 16, 1945, p. 6; citing wife and daughter leave for CA Standard-Speaker, (Hazleton, PA), Sat, Oct 6, 1945, p. 4; citing death of Emerson Luhman Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. MT-WY; PA, p. 36; citing Emerson David Luhman, wife Mattie Luhman. The Stand-Speaker, Sat, Aug 18, 1945, p. 15; citing death of John Luhman in 1942. Commonwealth of PA, WWII Veterans Compensation Bureau, Application for WWII Compensation; application of Mattie Joyce Luhman Hudock for minor child, Joyce Luhman Hudock, 6/26/1950.

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