Harold Bray Tribute and USS Indianapolis Veterans Memorial
Donate to Get Your Name on a Bronze Plaque at the Monument!
Donating to the Harold Bray Monument is an opportunity to honor a true American hero and preserve his legacy for future generations. Harold Bray, the last living survivor of the USS Indianapolis, exemplifies bravery and resilience. Your contribution will not only support the creation of this lasting tribute but also ensure his remarkable story continues to inspire. For donations of $325 and above, your name will be engraved on brass plaques, becoming a permanent part of the monument. Join us in celebrating Harold Bray’s heroism and be a part of history.
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Harold Bray: Lone Living Survivor from the Legendary USS Indianapolis
The Benicia Community Foundation, Inc. worked with the City of Benicia, Benicia Veterans Memorial Hall, and community members to design and place a bronze statue paying tribute to our hometown hero Harold Bray, retired Benicia Police Officer, and the lone living survivor of the legendary USS Indianapolis that its last mission to help end WWII. This life-sized bronze statue stands nearly seven feet tall, affixed to a pedestal, surrounded by several bronze sponsorship legacy plaques, personalized engraved bricks, concrete benches, and a storyboard displaying the history of Harold Bray and the USS Indianapolis.
The Benicia Community Foundation projects are supported by generous sponsorships from residents, groups, organizations, and businesses. We sincerely appreciate your support.
The second world war began when Harold was just 14 years old. Growing up in a small town in northern Michigan, he participated in ROTC and became his squadron leader, while anxiously awaiting the day when he could join the fight. As soon as he turned 17 in 1944, Harold enlisted in the United States Navy and departed for bootcamp in Great Lakes, Illinois, shortly thereafter.
When the assignments came in, Harold found out he would join the crew of USS Indianapolis (CA-35) in Mare Island, California. Indy was a capital ship that just returned stateside for major repair and refitting, following a Japanese Kamikaze attack at Okinawa in late March 1945. Nine members of the crew were killed in the attack. A somber time, but also an exciting time for this young farm boy, who upon seeing the ship for the first time remarked, “I couldn’t believe something that big and that heavy could stay afloat!”
During those summer days, prior to the ship’s final top-secret mission, Harold kept busy learning all the ways of Navy life. “The months and days that followed were spent training, firefighting, standing watches, and learning to drink Navy coffee. While the ship was getting repaired, we lived in the barracks at the north end of the island and rode a train to the ship every day.”
Having left the frigid climate of Michigan behind, Harold fell in love with California and especially the areas surrounding the shipyard. So much so that after his years in the Navy, he would settle down in Benicia, raise a family, and become a beloved member of the police department and community, where he still lives today.
Written by Sara Vladic
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