Lofberg (DD 759) - Naval Cruise Book

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HIP' HISTOR Y On 23 October 1964, the USS LOFBERG--17 officers and 252,men strong--setsail on a seven month cruise in the Western Pacific. Leaving behind families and many friends, we ventured off into the realm of Buddhist temples, kimonos, hibachi's, and hotsey baths, to return on 17 May 1965, a little saltier, a little wiser, a little older, a little stronger. Proudly dis- playing the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, each and every officer and man now feels a new closeness to his Country and to his fellow militants. 79.22, of the time, LOFBERC was underway, but spirits remained high and complaints were few and far between. - This book attempts to tell, in part, the story of the 1964-65 WESTPAC CRUISE of the USS LOFBERC. Our ship was named for Commander Gustov Brynwolf Lofberg, who exhibited conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy forces off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 4 September 1942. Commander Lofberg, skipper of the USS LITTLE, challanged a numerically superior Japanese naval force, and after scoring numerous hits the LITTLE was spotlighted by two enemy de- stroyers and set aflame. Commander Lofberg was lost at sea during the battle. The keel of the USS LOFBERC was laid at San Francisco, California, by the Bethlehem Steel Company on 4 November 1943. A 2200 ton short hull destroyer, she was christened a year later and commissioned on 26 November 1944. Completing her shakedown cruise too late to participate in World War II, the LOFBERG was at Pearl Harbor on 9 August 1945, when the Japanese forces surrendered. Durin the months which followed World War II, LOFBERG served in' various .capacities 3 ranging from Commander Mine Squadron Three--controlling the clearing of mines in the Japanese Islands--to courier and patrol ship duties off the Chinese mainland. ' ' h K A t'o The LOFBERG completed three tours of duty in the Far East during t e orean c 1 n, serving with the fast carrier task forces off both coasts of Korea, providing naval gunfire sup- port, and patrolling the Straits of Formosa, in addition to conducting numerous training exer- cises. The '64-'65 cruise marked the 11th occasion that the LOFBERG had served with the Seventh Fleet since the Korean Action. Following our departure from San Diegot in October, our schedule included 10 days in I-Iawaii, six weeks on the Formosa Patrol, a week of upkeep in Subic Bay, P.I., a week of R gl R in I-long Kong, patrol duties in the South China Sea, 13 days of upkeep in Sasebo, and 3 days of frantic buying in Yokosuka. It was a memorable cruise: 37 days straight at sea--46 days straight at sea--ah yes, we remember it well! As you leaf through these pages, it is hoped that you will recall or come to a better understanding of the 1964-19 5 WESTPAC CRUISE of the USS LOFBERC!