Eugene Stanley Morgan
September 14, 1920 - June 18, 2008
Obituary
EUGENE S. MORGAN
My name is Eugene S. Morgan, I am 87 years young and this is my short autobiography of a portion of my fascinating life, thus far. I am one of the survivors of the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis CA-35 Heavy Cruiser that was sunk by a Japanese Submarine in W.W. II in which 880 men perished, only 317 survived, and to date only approximately 70 are still with us today.
I grew up in Washington State, Queen Anne area. I played baseball at Queen Ann High School where I lettered in baseball. My dream of playing professional baseball was shattered with the news of W.W.II.
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor -I decided to join the U.S. Navy because one of my brothers, Leonard was abroad the ship since about 1935. We believed the ship was in Pearl Harbor, but found out it was at Johnson Island which is southwest of Pearl Harbor.
I left Seattle on December 13, 1942 for San Diego Naval Training Base. Spent two weeks there, and then was sent to Balboa Park Zoo for 2 weeks, which was a training center during the war.
Then I was shipped to Pearl Harbor and arrived there around January, 1942. I was assigned to the U.S.S. Indianapolis CA-35.
I found my brother aboard ship. He was a 1st class baker. We were together until the Sullivan brothers were killed in the South Pacific Ocean. Then he was transferred off the ship to a sea going dug, in the South Pacific and was stationed in bases around the San Francisco area.
My other brother Lambert was also in the navy. He was a radio man, stationed on the China coast reporting Japanese shipping movement.
After the war, another brother, Bill, was stationed at the Marshall Islands where they tested the A-bomb, and then sent to Johnson Island where they stored all secret material in which he was in charge of overseeing.
Both brothers survived the war, I survived the war plus the sinking of the ship where I spend 4 days and 5 nights in the water without food or water, suffering from salt water ulcers, oil and sun burnt eyes.
With hundreds of men in the water, many hurt and confused no food, no water, no life rafts, with only their life jackets to keep them above water, many men started to hallucinate and swim off in hopes of land and food. Some men would hear a train and swim off to catch it. Others where so thirsty they would dive down and drink the sea water, and some men could even feel the ship with their feet, and would dive under to get fresh water. Sadly these men did not return.
From the very beginning there were shark attacks, I could hear the men scream while being attacked. On the 4th day I had a very close encounter with a nice shark; he only ate my shorts, but left me alone. I considered myself to be one of the lucky blessed ones. I did learn the sharks do not like polish sausage. I am Polish, so therefore they left me alone.
The Navy failed to properly inform Captain McVay of any existing enemy activity within the waters of our ordered path. There had been three Japanese subs operating in the area from Guam to Leyte Gulf which was our course. They didn’t tell us that a United States Destroyer was sunk three days before we arrived at the same location. They ignored the three S.O.S. messages that we sent and were received by different Navy Bases in the area, to pick us up.
We where discovered by accident by a Navy plane that was on anti-sub patrol, August 2, 1945.
After being treated for injuries at two different naval hospitals, one being an island in the Philippines, and the other an island off Guam, I was given a month leave and was to report to Bremerton Naval shipyard, where I was discharged on November 27, 1945.
I was married on November 8, 1945, just before being discharged. With my hopes of playing professional baseball gone, I followed my father’s footsteps and become a Seattle Firefighter on January 4, 1946, where I spent 27 years serving the city of Seattle. My wife and I were blessed with 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. I have 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Medic One.
Our deepest sympathy to all of the Morgan Family in the loss of your Father & Grandfather. He was a courageous, wonderful & remarkable man! His loving & enthusiastic personality will always be remembered. He and my father, Warren Cambre, were buddies aboard the USS INDIANAPOLIS prior to its sinking. My father received his honorable discharge approximately 2 months prior to the ships departure from Mare Island in July of 1945. My Dad always spoke highly of Eugene. I remember meeting him for the first time at the Westin Hotel during the USS INDIANAPOLIS Reunion in July of 2002. Since my father’s ill health would no longer allow him to attend reunions, my husband, Scott, and I set out to find Eugene. When I introduced myself as Warren Cambre’s daughter, he smiled and was so excited to meet me. We hugged and Scott took pictures. I will never forget that moment! Since then, upon his arrival, we have picked him up at the airport and made sure he was safe & comfortable. I have so thoroughly enjoyed being his guest at the luncheons during the Reunions. We have also enjoyed having him as a guest in our home every time he was in town. He always spoke of how proud he was of his children & grandchildren. You all have been blessed to have had so many years with such a wonderful and loving father & grandfather. GOD is Good and Merciful & Eugene has arrived safely HOME! We will miss him so very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Justine & Scott
From what I have read you will be happy in heaven because you are heading in that direction for sure. I am from the Island of Guam and was stationed in Seattle from 2000 to the summer of 2007. Courageous gentlemen like yourself are not given enough respect on a daily basis like you deserve. R.I.P. sir and God Bless you!
Kenneth Robinson
guamtriton@yahoo.com
Bob, Julie, Marybeth, Scott and Kelly, Uncle Gene was such a warm, funny, interesting man! I remember our folks playing cards at your house all through our childhood, and listening to the stories. He was friends with Grandpa and Grandma, knew Mom since she was a teenager, and kept Dad company in his later years, too. We’ll miss him. You’re in our prayers.
Dad and Gene were like a couple of book ends, you put them together and they “held” volumes of stories.
When we lived in Seattle, not a day went by when we didn’t see Gene. He and Dad were always together either arguing or remembering.
Moving away was a hard separation for both of them. We have and will miss Gene greatly.
I will miss Gene giving me a bad time, and seeing his smiling face at the horsetrack. I enjoyed knowing him. He was a hero in my eyes. He will be grately missed by all that knew him and loved him.
So very sorry to see him go, but he is in a better place now with the Lord. May peace be with him.
Gene and I were members of the Andy’s Diner branch of the St. Anne “Boy’s Club,” which met every third thursday for lunch, at Andy’s. We had the Navy in common, but Gene’s experiences far outweighed mine.
I was always impressed by Gene’s good humor, and his ability to laugh at himself. We shared political views mostly liberal in a group of die-hard conservatives.
I quote a few lines from a poem,”Lost Harbor:”
“There is a port of no return, where ships may rest at anchor for a little space.
And then one night, the cable slips, leaving an eddy at the mooring place.
Gulls, veer no longer…Sailor, rest your oar.
No tangled wreckage will wash ashore.”
Rest your oar, Gene.
My sincere condolences to Gene’s family.
To the Morgan Family, I was blessed by the presence of your Father/Grandfather. He talked about his family with the highest regards. He always played jokes on me when we were sitting at Bingo. One time he took my keys and I went all the way to my car to see if I left them in there and came back to him laughing his head off knowing I had been tricked.He lead a full and busy life. He would always tell me where he was going to do his next lecture or get together with his dear and loved friends. His laugh and smile will be missed along with the stories he had to tell. He was “one” special guy!! Sincerely Sue
My deepest sympathy to the family of Eugene. I know Eugene through Remember Our Heroes program out of Portland,Ore.as my father also was a part of this wonderful program.I have listened to Eugene’s story in the class room.He was an interesting person.
A BOATSWAIN MATE SECOND CLASS, A SHIPMATE FIRST CLASS, A MEMBER OF THE ”GREATEST GENERATION” AND ONE OF ”THE FEW AND THE BRAVE AND THE PROUD.” HE IS HOME IN HEAVEN NOW. ALL PAIN & GRIEF IS GONE. .HE IS AT PEACE FOREVER, SAFELY HOME IN HEAVEN
I was so lucky to have someone like eugene in my life for a short time. He would always say there is my squiky when i yelled BINGO
Eugene will be missed by all of our staff and his “bingo buddies” at Seattle Jaycee Bingo. We all have been blessed to have had the opportunity to have gotten to know him over the years. For those of us who have been touched by his enthusiam, commitment to his causes, and his zest for life, his spirit will be in our hearts forever.
We send our deepest sympathy to Eugene’s family.
Scott, Mary, Julie, Kelly, Bob, grandchildren and great grandchildren,
It has been an honor to know “Pops”. I enjoyed whenever we went to Reno together and family dinners for Thanksgiving and Christmas. He will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to you all & I pray that God will comfort your hearts.
Scotty,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Love,
Art & Cindy
I am devastated at the loss of Eugene. I had the honor of sitting in on and editing his interview for the World War II Veterans Project last year and was never so in awe of a man who was so humble and genuine. It’s because of men like Eugene that we are able to live and think freely today. He never considered himself a “hero,†but he was indeed the definition of the word. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and with a grateful nation.
We wanted to send our deepest condolences to all of you at the loss of your Dad and our Uncle. Having lost both our Dad, Uncle Bill, and Mom, Auntie Ann, our sympathies are with you at this time.
Our Mom and Dad always spoke of your Dad with such fondness and happy memories of when they would go to see your Dad play baseball at Green Lake. In fact, it was your Dad who introduced them at the beginning.
Love to you all, your cousins, Pam and David Morgan
It is difficult today to see beyond the sorrow and the sadness. May looking back in memory help to comfort you through tomorrow.
I really enjoyed seeing your dad when he would come to play bingo.
I send my deepest sympathy to all of you in the Morgan family.
Sincerely,
Patty
Many thanks for your call about your Dad. He was a very special person to both Jerry and I. Jerry passed away March 4, 2007 so now they can “talk Navy shop” stuff together. I will be out of town so will be unable to attend the services but you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh God,
This kinda history fascinates me to the core. God loves both us living today and those who have preceded us!
To you closely connected to all these people being talked of now, gone and living, know that God loves you, and that He is all powerful, and has the reasons for everything in our lives.
Much love.
Bright.