World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Lewis L. Haynes, M.D.
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Manistee, Michigan
Honored By
His Loving Family
DIVISION MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE DESTROYER DIVISION 62 AT THE START OF WWII. DIVISION WAS COMPRISED OF THE USS OVERTON DD-239, USS BAINBRIDGE DD-246, USS STURTEVANT DD-240 AND THE USS REUBEN JAMES DD-245 IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE BATTLESHIP USS NEW MEXICO AND STATIONED IN THE PACIFIC UNTIL 1943. ASSIGNED NINE MONTHS OF SHORE DUTY IN MCALESTER, OKLAHOMA. IN 1943, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER ABOARD THE USS INDIANAPOLIS CA-35. ON JULY 30, 1945 THE USS INDIANAPOLIS WAS TORPEDOED BY A JAPANESE SUBMARINE. FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THE SHIP'S SINKING IT HAD JUST DELIVERED THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB TO TINIAN. HE WAS ONE OF THE 316 SURVIVORS OF THIS TRAGEDY. RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART AND BRONZE STAR FOR HIS BRAVERY.