Lofberg (DD 759) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE CAPTAIN rom the Skipper... It is with great pride as Commanding Officer that I dedicate this cruise book to the wives, families and friends who have patiently and faithfully awaited our return. Although representing only one short period of our life, this book in later years will serve as an aid in recall- ing the many friends whom we have made and the varied experiences we have shared while playing a part in the writing of an important chapter in the history of the U. S. Navy. about the Skipper... Commander William G. Madill Jr., a native of Detroit, Michigan, enlisted in the Navy in October, 1941. He had advanced to second class Electrician's Mate before being selected for the Naval College Train- ing Program, at the University of Michigan in 1943 where he attended the College of Engineering and majored in Mechanical Engineering. In October 1945 he was com- missioned Ensign, USNR. His first billet as an officer was First Lieutenant aboard the USS ROWE QDD-5641. This was followed by a tour aboard the USS SHELTON QDD-7905, and then a tour as Communications Officer for TACRON THREE. Intermediate tours ranging from Operations Executive Officer of the USS RAYMOND fDE-3415,Command- ing Officer of the USS ENGAGE fMSO-I 4335 , -Executive Officer of the USS GREGORY fDD-8021, to Communications Officer for W. G. MADILL JR. COMMANDER, USN COMPHIBGRU THREE provided him with a highly diversified background. I Commander MADILL graduated from George Washington University with an AS degree in Business Administration, .22 February 1962, as a result of participatlng in their College of General Studies after- hours program while on duty in OPNAV- The Captain is authorized to wear the American Defense, the American Theatre, the European Theatre fone starl, the World War II Victory, the Navy Good Conduct. the National Defense, the Armed Forces EXQG' ditionary, and the Viet-Namese Service Medals. Commander MADILL, is married to the former Janet W. Stober of MapleWOf2d' New Jersey. They reside in Coronado with their two sons, Bill and Tom.

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HIP, HI TUR Y The U.S.S. LOFBERG is named for Com- mander Gus Brynwolf Lofberg in recognition of his conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy forces in World War Two while serving as Com- manding Officer of the U.S.S. Little. - On 4 September 1942, off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, Commander LOFBERG, as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. LITTLE, challenged the numerically superior Japanese naval force which was shelling American po- sitions on the island. His ship scored numerous hits upon the enemy vessels before it was spot- lighted by two enemy destroyers. Caught in a curtain of fire, the LITTLE was set aflame. Commander LOFBERG was lost at sea during the battle. LOFBERG is a 2200 ton short hull destroyer of the SUMNER class. The keel was laid at San Francisco, California by the Bethlehem Steel Company on 4 November 1943 and chris- tened a year later for a cost of eight million dollars excluding armament. The LOFBERG completed her Shakedown cruise too late to participate in World War Two. The LOFBERG was at Pearl Harbor on 9 August 1945 when the Japanese forces surrendered. Although too late to reach the forward area prior to the cessation of hostilities and con- sequently not experiencing any combat duty before the war ended, the LOFBERG continued westward and arrived in the Japanese area in the fall of 1945. Assuming the duties of flagship for Commander Mine Squadron Three, who con- trolled the clearing of mine fields in that area, LOFBERG served in that capacity until the end of December 1945, at which time courier and patrol duty along the Chinese coast was assigned for a period of three months. During this time, Shanghai, China was frequently visited in addition to Sasebo, Tokyo, and Okinawa. Brief visits were also made to Tsingtao, and Taku. LOFBERG then returned to the'States, arriving at San Francisco on 28 March 1946. LOFBERG then acted as training ship for the Naval Base at Treasure Island, San Francisco. Upon completion of this duty the LOFBERG was assigned to the Inactive Reserve in the Third Fleet and was based at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Following a complete overhaul in the early months of 1947, LOFBERG departed San Francisco in April, and operated in San Diego waters for several weeks. Upon completion of the shakesown cruise, the LOFBERG returned to San Francisco and conducted several Naval Reserve Cruises, visiting Victoria, B.C., and Juneau, Alaska, in addition to Port Angeles, Seattle, Esquimalt Harbor, and Ketchican, Alaska, during the various training cruises. Gunnery exercises were conducted off Cape Flattery and also off Tatoosh in the Puget Sound. The ships of Destroyer Division 212 were assigned to Destroyer Division 71 on 1 July 1947 and the LOFBERG, flagship of DesDiv 212, became the flagship for Commander Destroyer Squadron 7. On 30 September 1950, shortly after the United Forces had been committed in the Korean Hostilities, the flagship LOFBERG, steamed for Korea and Far Eastern waters with Destroyer Division 71. LOFBERG completed three tours of duty to the Far East during the Korean action, serving with the fast carrier task forces off both coasts of Korea, providing naval 'gunfire support, and patrolling the Straits of Formosa, in addition to conducting numerous training exercises. Early in 1951, during the coldwinter months of January and February, the LOFBERG, while on its first cruise to the Far East during the Korean hostilities, joined the battleship MISSOURIfin the bombardment of Hangnum, Kansong, and Kangnung, east coast of Korea, and then escorted the Mighty Mo to the west coast of Korea and on to Inchon. Wonsan was included among the bombard- ment assignments during the second and third cruises conducted during the Korean action. During the third cruise LOFBERG, while serving as unit of the bombardment forces off the east coast of Korea, remained in Wonsan Harbor for six weeks while participating in the longest naval seige in history. Since the cessation of hostilities in Korea, LOFBERG has served with the United States Far Eastern Forces on eleven occasions in addition to the Western Pacific tour which is covered on the adjoining pages of this cruise book. ' ' - In 1962 LOFBERG underwent the Navy's Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization Program CFRAM ID. During this period the ship was modernized and had its service life extended several years at a fraction of the cost of a new ship. Among the new installations added to LOFBERG were DASH CDrone Anti-Submarine HelicopterD weapons system, variable Depth Sonar, Combat Information Center, Anti-Sub- marine Warfare Center, as well as numerous electronic equipment. Since Fram, LOFBERG'S assignments have included several patrols on the Formosa Straits, fast carrier operations, a tour with the Pacific Fleet Hunter-Killer Group Alfa , Market time patrol and ,Naval Gunfire Support missions in Viet Nam.

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THE OLE' X0 THE XO LCDR R. V. FOX Lieutenant Commander Fox graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1953 and entered Navy Officer Candidate School in July of that year. Upon receiving his commission in November 1953, he reported to the USS ROCKBRIDGE IAPA-2281 where he served as Gunnery Officer and Assistant Group Commander. From July 1956 until July 1958, he served as Weapons Instructor at the NBOTC Unit at Northwestern University. Upon completion of this tour, Mr. Fox augmented into the regular Navy and received orders to the USS ROBINSON QDD-5625, where he served as Operations Officer until September 1959. In November of 1959, he assumed command of the USS KALMIA QATA-1845,providingtarget drone services for the Fleet Training Group, San Diego. Upon completion of this tour, he became Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the Commandant Eleventh Naval District in San Diego, serving in this capacity until reporting aboard this ship in September 1964. June 1966 marked the end of his duty aboard Lofberg and the beginning of a tour at the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California. LCDR Fox, a native of Evansville, Indiana, is married and has four children, all residing in Monterey, Calif. LCDR A. L. BADER A graduate of the University of NorthCarolina, Lieutenant Commander Bader received his com- mission through the NROTC program in 1955. His first tour of duty, from June 1955 until June 1957 was aboard the USS LOESER QDE-6805 where he served as CIC, Communications, and Operations Officer. From 1957 until June 1959 Mr, Bader served as an instructor in the Foreign Language Dept. at U.S, Naval Academy, In June 1959 he reported aboard the USS FORT SNELLING QLSD-301 as Ops and later Engineering Officer. In August of 61 the XO entered Naval Intelligence School in Washington, D.C. as a student. In July 1962 he began a tour as the Assistant Naval Attache, U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada. From here he went to the USS VANCOUVER QLPD-21 for a year and a half as Operations Officer before beginning his tour on the Lofberg. , f LC DR Bader is anative of Louisville, Kentucky. He is married and has four daughters, all residing in San Diego.