Charles B. McVay, III

United States naval officer

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July 20, 2026

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Charles B. McVay III was a United States naval officer and captain of the USS Indianapolis. The heavy cruiser was sunk by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, shortly after delivering components for the atomic bombs used in World War II.1

McVay was the only ship captain in the U.S. Navy to be court-martialed in connection with the loss of his ship in combat during the war. He was found guilty of negligence for not steering the ship in a zigzag pattern to evade submarines, though the sentence was later set aside. Many survivors felt McVay was scapegoated, and in 2000, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution exonerating him.12

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USS Indianapolis
Rescue and aftermath
…commanding officer of the Indianapolis, Capt. Charles B. McVay III, was among the survivors. He became the only ship captain in the U.S. Navy to be court-martialed in connection with the loss of his ship in combat in World War II. In February 1946 McVay was found guilty of negligence…
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…commanding officer of the Indianapolis, Capt. Charles B. McVay III, was among the survivors. He became the only ship captain in the U.S. Navy to be court-martialed in connection with the loss of his ship in combat in World War II. In February 1946 McVay was found guilty of negligence…
Read More