Navy Issues Posthumous Navy Cross to USS Indianapolis Chaplain
By: Mallory Shelbourne
January 9, 2021 6:26 PM
The Navy on Friday issued a posthumous Navy Cross to Lt. Thomas Conway, a chaplain who died after the sinking of the World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35).
Speaking during a ceremony at Lt. Thomas Conway’s church in Waterbury, Conn., Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite recounted how the chaplain helped his fellow shipmates after their cruiser sank into the ocean.
“We all know the story, or we should, that in the next three days, Thomas Conway swam from group to group of the survivors, encouraging them, inspiring them, offering baptism or last rites,†Braithwaite said. “Father Conway wasn’t a young man, but he gave his all in his duty as he swam from group to group. Three and a half days in the water. Nothing to drink. Nothing to eat. And yet he went on.â€
https://news.usni.org/2021/01/09/navy-issues-posthumous-navy-cross-to-uss-indianapolis-chaplain
