Fireman, Second Class John H. Niskanen
United States Naval Reserve, Service # 9601420
Entered the Service from: Michigan
Joined the crew of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35): 12 May 1945
Died: 30 July 1945, Lost at Sea; Philippine Sea
Son of Charles E. & Elvira Niskanen. His parents were born in Finland.
1930 United States Federal Census (04 April 1930): Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan (sheet 2A, family 36) – John H. Niskanen (3 7/12 Michigan).
1940 United States Federal Census (06 April 1940): Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan (sheet 4A, household 77, Route 1, Lake Linden) – John Niskanen (13 Michigan).
John Hubert Niskanen (18, 30 September 1926, Princess Point, Michigan), a resident of Box 89, Lake Linden, Houghton County, Michigan signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. W-559, Order No. 13444) on 30 September 1944 in Lake Linden, Houghton County, Michigan. He was unemployed. John listed his father, Charles Niskanen, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 9" in height, 145 lbs., with a light complexion, brown hair and brown eyes.
John H. Niskanen (1926 Michigan), a resident of Houghton County, Michigan, enlisted in the U.S. Navy (S/N 960 14 20) in Michigan.
Navy Muster Roll - U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) 19 July 1945
F2c John H. Niskanen (S/N 960 14 20) was received on board the Indianapolis on 12 May 1945.
The U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy. She served as flagship for Admiral Raymond Spruance while he commanded the Fifth Fleet in their battles across the Central Pacific. She holds a place in history due to the circumstances of her sinking, which led to the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy.
July 1945
After repairs and overhaul in the summer of 1945, USS Indianapolis (CA-35) received orders to proceed at high speed to Tinian, carrying parts and nuclear material to be used in the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima. The Indianapolis departed San Francisco on 16 July. Briefly pausing at Pearl Harbor on 19 July, she raced on unescorted and arrived at Tinian on 26 July, having set a record in covering some 5000 miles from San Francisco in only 10 days.
Having delivered her top-secret cargo, Indianapolis was dispatched to Guam. There the Indianapolis ....was directed to join the battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan. The Indianapolis, unescorted, departed Apra Harbor, Guam on 28 July, on a course of 262 degrees along Convoy Route Peddie, making about 17 knots. On board were 1,195 sailors and marines.
At 14 minutes past midnight, on 30 July 1945, midway between Guam and Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Sea, she was hit by two torpedoes out of six fired by I-58, a Japanese submarine. The first torpedo hit directly in front of the forward gun mount of Indianapolis, causing a large explosion, the second struck near midship on the starboard side adjacent to a fuel tank and a powder magazine. Within minutes, lights flickered at the center of Indianapolis and several more explosions could be heard. The resulting explosions split the ship to the keel, knocking out all electric power.
In the next 12-16 minutes of fire and chaos, about 330 of the ship's crew went down with the ship as it quickly sank, while the rest, approximately 880 men, would be left alone in the Pacific in the middle of the night. Few life rafts were released. Most survivors wore the standard kapok life jacket. For the next five days, without food or water, suffering exposure, dehydration, drowning, and shark attacks, the crew battled the elements and clung to life as best they could before they were finally rescued.
Although the ship sent out a distress call, reports were not acted on until the morning of 02 August 1945 when the crew of a twin-engine PV-1 Lockheed Ventura bomber on submarine patrol accidentally spotted an oil slick and followed it to the largest group of 150 survivors. All air and surface units capable of rescue operations were dispatched to lend support and throughout that night and the following morning, 316 survivors were rescued.
Fireman Second Class John Hubert Niskanen was one of 879 men from the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) lost at sea. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Navy at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
John Hubert Niskanen also has a cenotaph in the Lake View Cemetery, Calumet, Houghton County, Michigan.
He is remembered at the U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
On 19 August 2017, a U.S. Navy–supported expedition led by entrepreneur-philanthropist Paul G. Allen announced that it had located the wreck of Indianapolis.
United States Naval Reserve, Service # 9601420
Entered the Service from: Michigan
Joined the crew of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35): 12 May 1945
Died: 30 July 1945, Lost at Sea; Philippine Sea
Son of Charles E. & Elvira Niskanen. His parents were born in Finland.
1930 United States Federal Census (04 April 1930): Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan (sheet 2A, family 36) – John H. Niskanen (3 7/12 Michigan).
1940 United States Federal Census (06 April 1940): Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan (sheet 4A, household 77, Route 1, Lake Linden) – John Niskanen (13 Michigan).
John Hubert Niskanen (18, 30 September 1926, Princess Point, Michigan), a resident of Box 89, Lake Linden, Houghton County, Michigan signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. W-559, Order No. 13444) on 30 September 1944 in Lake Linden, Houghton County, Michigan. He was unemployed. John listed his father, Charles Niskanen, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 9" in height, 145 lbs., with a light complexion, brown hair and brown eyes.
John H. Niskanen (1926 Michigan), a resident of Houghton County, Michigan, enlisted in the U.S. Navy (S/N 960 14 20) in Michigan.
Navy Muster Roll - U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) 19 July 1945
F2c John H. Niskanen (S/N 960 14 20) was received on board the Indianapolis on 12 May 1945.
The U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy. She served as flagship for Admiral Raymond Spruance while he commanded the Fifth Fleet in their battles across the Central Pacific. She holds a place in history due to the circumstances of her sinking, which led to the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy.
July 1945
After repairs and overhaul in the summer of 1945, USS Indianapolis (CA-35) received orders to proceed at high speed to Tinian, carrying parts and nuclear material to be used in the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima. The Indianapolis departed San Francisco on 16 July. Briefly pausing at Pearl Harbor on 19 July, she raced on unescorted and arrived at Tinian on 26 July, having set a record in covering some 5000 miles from San Francisco in only 10 days.
Having delivered her top-secret cargo, Indianapolis was dispatched to Guam. There the Indianapolis ....was directed to join the battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan. The Indianapolis, unescorted, departed Apra Harbor, Guam on 28 July, on a course of 262 degrees along Convoy Route Peddie, making about 17 knots. On board were 1,195 sailors and marines.
At 14 minutes past midnight, on 30 July 1945, midway between Guam and Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Sea, she was hit by two torpedoes out of six fired by I-58, a Japanese submarine. The first torpedo hit directly in front of the forward gun mount of Indianapolis, causing a large explosion, the second struck near midship on the starboard side adjacent to a fuel tank and a powder magazine. Within minutes, lights flickered at the center of Indianapolis and several more explosions could be heard. The resulting explosions split the ship to the keel, knocking out all electric power.
In the next 12-16 minutes of fire and chaos, about 330 of the ship's crew went down with the ship as it quickly sank, while the rest, approximately 880 men, would be left alone in the Pacific in the middle of the night. Few life rafts were released. Most survivors wore the standard kapok life jacket. For the next five days, without food or water, suffering exposure, dehydration, drowning, and shark attacks, the crew battled the elements and clung to life as best they could before they were finally rescued.
Although the ship sent out a distress call, reports were not acted on until the morning of 02 August 1945 when the crew of a twin-engine PV-1 Lockheed Ventura bomber on submarine patrol accidentally spotted an oil slick and followed it to the largest group of 150 survivors. All air and surface units capable of rescue operations were dispatched to lend support and throughout that night and the following morning, 316 survivors were rescued.
Fireman Second Class John Hubert Niskanen was one of 879 men from the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) lost at sea. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Navy at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
John Hubert Niskanen also has a cenotaph in the Lake View Cemetery, Calumet, Houghton County, Michigan.
He is remembered at the U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
On 19 August 2017, a U.S. Navy–supported expedition led by entrepreneur-philanthropist Paul G. Allen announced that it had located the wreck of Indianapolis.
Fireman, Second Class John H. Niskanen
United States Naval Reserve, Service # 9601420
Entered the Service from: Michigan
Joined the crew of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35): 12 May 1945
Died: 30 July 1945, Lost at Sea; Philippine Sea
Son of Charles E. & Elvira Niskanen. His parents were born in Finland.
1930 United States Federal Census (04 April 1930): Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan (sheet 2A, family 36) – John H. Niskanen (3 7/12 Michigan).
1940 United States Federal Census (06 April 1940): Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan (sheet 4A, household 77, Route 1, Lake Linden) – John Niskanen (13 Michigan).
John Hubert Niskanen (18, 30 September 1926, Princess Point, Michigan), a resident of Box 89, Lake Linden, Houghton County, Michigan signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. W-559, Order No. 13444) on 30 September 1944 in Lake Linden, Houghton County, Michigan. He was unemployed. John listed his father, Charles Niskanen, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 9" in height, 145 lbs., with a light complexion, brown hair and brown eyes.
John H. Niskanen (1926 Michigan), a resident of Houghton County, Michigan, enlisted in the U.S. Navy (S/N 960 14 20) in Michigan.
Navy Muster Roll - U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) 19 July 1945
F2c John H. Niskanen (S/N 960 14 20) was received on board the Indianapolis on 12 May 1945.
The U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy. She served as flagship for Admiral Raymond Spruance while he commanded the Fifth Fleet in their battles across the Central Pacific. She holds a place in history due to the circumstances of her sinking, which led to the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy.
July 1945
After repairs and overhaul in the summer of 1945, USS Indianapolis (CA-35) received orders to proceed at high speed to Tinian, carrying parts and nuclear material to be used in the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima. The Indianapolis departed San Francisco on 16 July. Briefly pausing at Pearl Harbor on 19 July, she raced on unescorted and arrived at Tinian on 26 July, having set a record in covering some 5000 miles from San Francisco in only 10 days.
Having delivered her top-secret cargo, Indianapolis was dispatched to Guam. There the Indianapolis ....was directed to join the battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan. The Indianapolis, unescorted, departed Apra Harbor, Guam on 28 July, on a course of 262 degrees along Convoy Route Peddie, making about 17 knots. On board were 1,195 sailors and marines.
At 14 minutes past midnight, on 30 July 1945, midway between Guam and Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Sea, she was hit by two torpedoes out of six fired by I-58, a Japanese submarine. The first torpedo hit directly in front of the forward gun mount of Indianapolis, causing a large explosion, the second struck near midship on the starboard side adjacent to a fuel tank and a powder magazine. Within minutes, lights flickered at the center of Indianapolis and several more explosions could be heard. The resulting explosions split the ship to the keel, knocking out all electric power.
In the next 12-16 minutes of fire and chaos, about 330 of the ship's crew went down with the ship as it quickly sank, while the rest, approximately 880 men, would be left alone in the Pacific in the middle of the night. Few life rafts were released. Most survivors wore the standard kapok life jacket. For the next five days, without food or water, suffering exposure, dehydration, drowning, and shark attacks, the crew battled the elements and clung to life as best they could before they were finally rescued.
Although the ship sent out a distress call, reports were not acted on until the morning of 02 August 1945 when the crew of a twin-engine PV-1 Lockheed Ventura bomber on submarine patrol accidentally spotted an oil slick and followed it to the largest group of 150 survivors. All air and surface units capable of rescue operations were dispatched to lend support and throughout that night and the following morning, 316 survivors were rescued.
Fireman Second Class John Hubert Niskanen was one of 879 men from the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) lost at sea. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Navy at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
John Hubert Niskanen also has a cenotaph in the Lake View Cemetery, Calumet, Houghton County, Michigan.
He is remembered at the U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
On 19 August 2017, a U.S. Navy–supported expedition led by entrepreneur-philanthropist Paul G. Allen announced that it had located the wreck of Indianapolis.
United States Naval Reserve, Service # 9601420
Entered the Service from: Michigan
Joined the crew of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35): 12 May 1945
Died: 30 July 1945, Lost at Sea; Philippine Sea
Son of Charles E. & Elvira Niskanen. His parents were born in Finland.
1930 United States Federal Census (04 April 1930): Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan (sheet 2A, family 36) – John H. Niskanen (3 7/12 Michigan).
1940 United States Federal Census (06 April 1940): Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan (sheet 4A, household 77, Route 1, Lake Linden) – John Niskanen (13 Michigan).
John Hubert Niskanen (18, 30 September 1926, Princess Point, Michigan), a resident of Box 89, Lake Linden, Houghton County, Michigan signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. W-559, Order No. 13444) on 30 September 1944 in Lake Linden, Houghton County, Michigan. He was unemployed. John listed his father, Charles Niskanen, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 9" in height, 145 lbs., with a light complexion, brown hair and brown eyes.
John H. Niskanen (1926 Michigan), a resident of Houghton County, Michigan, enlisted in the U.S. Navy (S/N 960 14 20) in Michigan.
Navy Muster Roll - U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) 19 July 1945
F2c John H. Niskanen (S/N 960 14 20) was received on board the Indianapolis on 12 May 1945.
The U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy. She served as flagship for Admiral Raymond Spruance while he commanded the Fifth Fleet in their battles across the Central Pacific. She holds a place in history due to the circumstances of her sinking, which led to the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy.
July 1945
After repairs and overhaul in the summer of 1945, USS Indianapolis (CA-35) received orders to proceed at high speed to Tinian, carrying parts and nuclear material to be used in the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima. The Indianapolis departed San Francisco on 16 July. Briefly pausing at Pearl Harbor on 19 July, she raced on unescorted and arrived at Tinian on 26 July, having set a record in covering some 5000 miles from San Francisco in only 10 days.
Having delivered her top-secret cargo, Indianapolis was dispatched to Guam. There the Indianapolis ....was directed to join the battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan. The Indianapolis, unescorted, departed Apra Harbor, Guam on 28 July, on a course of 262 degrees along Convoy Route Peddie, making about 17 knots. On board were 1,195 sailors and marines.
At 14 minutes past midnight, on 30 July 1945, midway between Guam and Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Sea, she was hit by two torpedoes out of six fired by I-58, a Japanese submarine. The first torpedo hit directly in front of the forward gun mount of Indianapolis, causing a large explosion, the second struck near midship on the starboard side adjacent to a fuel tank and a powder magazine. Within minutes, lights flickered at the center of Indianapolis and several more explosions could be heard. The resulting explosions split the ship to the keel, knocking out all electric power.
In the next 12-16 minutes of fire and chaos, about 330 of the ship's crew went down with the ship as it quickly sank, while the rest, approximately 880 men, would be left alone in the Pacific in the middle of the night. Few life rafts were released. Most survivors wore the standard kapok life jacket. For the next five days, without food or water, suffering exposure, dehydration, drowning, and shark attacks, the crew battled the elements and clung to life as best they could before they were finally rescued.
Although the ship sent out a distress call, reports were not acted on until the morning of 02 August 1945 when the crew of a twin-engine PV-1 Lockheed Ventura bomber on submarine patrol accidentally spotted an oil slick and followed it to the largest group of 150 survivors. All air and surface units capable of rescue operations were dispatched to lend support and throughout that night and the following morning, 316 survivors were rescued.
Fireman Second Class John Hubert Niskanen was one of 879 men from the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) lost at sea. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Navy at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
John Hubert Niskanen also has a cenotaph in the Lake View Cemetery, Calumet, Houghton County, Michigan.
He is remembered at the U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
On 19 August 2017, a U.S. Navy–supported expedition led by entrepreneur-philanthropist Paul G. Allen announced that it had located the wreck of Indianapolis.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Michigan.
Family Members
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