Last Surviving Marine of the USS Indianapolis Dies

INDIANAPOLIS — His service has finally come to an end.

Edgar Harrell, the last surviving Marine of the USS Indianapolis, died Saturday according to a post on the USS Indianapolis Facebook page.

Harrell is credited with protecting key ingredients for the “Little Boy” atomic bomb, which was later dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in August of 1945.

Harrell was on board the USS Indianapolis when it was attacked by Japanese torpedoes on July 30th, 1945.

Nearly 1200 personnel were on board the Indianapolis when it was attacked. Only 316 people survived the attack, and were later rescued five days later. Over 870 people died, making it the largest single disaster at sea in U.S. Navy history.

The group also said the 96-year-old helped guard various components of the atomic bomb and was hailed as a hero among his shipmates.

Harrell’s death comes just a few days after another survivor, James Smith, passed away on May 5th.

According to the Facebook post, there are now just five remaining survivors of the USS Indianapolis.

You can read the full post on the USS Indianapolis Facebook page here.