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USS Lofberg (DD-759)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Lofberg (DD-759)

USS Lofberg (DD-759) was laid down 4 November 1943 by Bethlehem Steel Co., San Francisco, Calif; launched 12 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. G. B. Lofberg, Jr., widow of Lieutenant Commander Lofberg; and commissioned 26 April 1945, Comdr. R. O. Beer in command.

After shakedown, USS Lofberg (DD-759) departed the west coast for the war zone. Since the formal surrender of Japan occurred almost 6 weeks before she arrived Tokyo Bay, 13 October, this trim fighting ship turned to occupation duty. First came the clearing of mines from Japanese harbors, then a series of shuttle runs between Okinawa and Shanghai, and finally USS Lofberg (DD-759)'s return to San Francisco 28 March 1946 with a group of marines embarked at Tsingtao, China.

Three years later the outbreak of the Korean war tested the Navy's peacetime stress upon continuous training and physical readiness. On 30 September, under the command of Comdr. R. W. McElrath, Lofberg departed San Francisco on the first of three tours of duty in the new war zone. These operations extended over a 3-year period. Even after the Korean armistice of July 1953, USS Lofberg (DD-759) continued to make annual voyages to the Far East to participate in the activities and responsibilities of the 7th Fleet. By the beginning of 1960 USS Lofberg (DD-759) had lost her flagship status to a more modern-type destroyer. Though called upon as a part of the 1961 South China Sea buildup during a new Laotian crisis, this World War II vintage ship soon returned to San Francisco for a FRAM 11 rehabilitation and modernization.

The following April 19th, USS Lofberg (DD-759) departed the west coast to begin a new series of Far Eastern tours of duty. USS Lofberg (DD-759) completed her first assignment in time to spend Christmas 1963 at home, but her following voyage lasted from 23 October 1964 until 17 May 1965. To the familiar Formosa Strait patrol was added in February new duties off the coast of war ravaged South Vietnam. Once home from the newest war zone, USS Lofberg (DD-759) underwent a 3-month drydock period and in October commenced tactical exercises in the southern California operation area. The destroyer reentered the South China Sea 26 April 1966, and during the next 6 months served first on Yankee Station and then provided gunfire support to Allied forces ashore.

For a complete history of USS Lofberg (DD-759) please see its DANFS page.