Coxswain Louis "Kayo" Erwin’s orders were to board the Flagship U.S.S. Indianapolis and during his brave tenure, earned eight battle stars prior to the last fateful voyage. On July 16, 1945, at the age of 20, Coxswain Erwin along with 1,196 shipmates on the U.S.S. Indianapolis departed the San Francisco Hunters Point Naval Shipyard on a top-secret mission. The mission was the delivery of major bomb components and the enriched uranium to the Tinian Islands for the atomic bomb “Little Boy” which was dropped on Hiroshima. At fifteen minutes after midnight on July 30, 1945, two type 95 Japanese torpedoes ripped into the hull of the U.S.S. Indianapolis over the Mariana Trench. The ship was so damaged that it sank in 12 minutes over some of the deepest ocean on earth. Of the 1,196 only 317 survived the most catastrophic loss of life the Navy has ever encountered. Louis "Kayo" Erwin has all hand signed this Vintage B&W 8x10 Photo with USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Survivor 1943-1945 inscription. JSA Authentication #SS17617 and JSA Certificate of Authenticity. Minor bend at top of photo, sold as is, no returns.