Brownwood in Brown County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Loel Dene "L.D." Cox

Photographed by James Hulse, May 30, 2024

1. Loel Dene "L.D." Cox Marker

Inscription. L.D. Cox, a survivor of one of the most tragic disasters in US Navy history, was born on 12 April 1926 in Sidney, Texas. He graduated from Sidney High School and joined the Navy in 1944. L.D. served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) and attained the rank of Seaman First Class. The USS Indianapolis was awarded 10 Battle Stars in World War II. The USS Indianapolis was heavily damaged on 31 March 1945 by a Japanese Kamikaze attack and was repaired in San Francisco at Mare Island. After repairs, the USS Indianapolis was sent to Tinian Island in the Pacific carrying components of the first atomic bomb "Little Boy" that was to be dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on 6 August 1945. Upon leaving Tinian island on the way to the Philippine Islands, the USS Indianapolis was struck by two torpedoes from a Japanese submarine just after midnight on 30 July 1945. The USS Indianapolis sank in 12 minutes. The USS Indianapolis carried 1197 crewmembers, and 300 men went down with the ship. The surviving men struggled for five nights and four days in shark infested waters without food or water. Survivors were spotted by a routine

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anti-submarine patrol and were rescued by the USS Doyle and USS Bassett. L.D. Cox was one of only 317 crew members who survived the horrific continuous shark attacks, starvation, exposure, and dehydration. In December 1945, a court martial convicted Captain Charles McVay III for "Hazarding his ship by failing to zigzag." When Admiral Chester Nimitz became Chief of Naval Operations in 1946, he overturned Captain McVay's sentence and returned him to duty. Returning home after World War II, L.D. I attended Tarleton College and Texas A&M University, graduating in 1948. He was very active in business, banking, and ranching until he died on 25 January 2015 in Early, Texas at the age of 88.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is July 30, 1945.

Location. 31° 40.645′ N, 98° 59.514′ W. Memorial is in Brownwood, Texas, in Brown County. It is on Burnett Road south of Memorial Park Drive, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located at the northwest section of the Camp Bowie Memorial Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 2710 Burnett Rd, Brownwood

The view of the Loel Dene "L.D." Cox Marker along the pathway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, May 30, 2024

2. The view of the Loel Dene "L.D." Cox Marker along the pathway

TX 76801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Big Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Major Billy T Branch (here, next to this marker); Norman Chesser (here, next to this marker); Obice da 149/19 modello 37 (a few steps from this marker); Military Families and Spouses (a few steps from this marker); Major Jack Carlson (a few steps from this marker); 1Lt Joe Henry (J.H.) Childs (a few steps from this marker); Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3278 (a few steps from this marker); S.J. "Skipper" Howard Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brownwood.

Also see . . . Witness History - Loel Dean (L.D.) Cox - The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis. BBC Sounds (Submitted on June 6, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

USS Indianapolis (CA-35) image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives, July 10, 1945

3. USS Indianapolis (CA-35)

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), on 10 July 1945, after her final overhaul and repair of combat damage. The photo was taken before the ship delivered atomic bomb components to Tinian and just 20 days before she was sunk by a Japanese submarine.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 301 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 6, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.