Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

The Navy Department Library

Related Content
Sources

Adapted from "John Forrest Floberg, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air, United States Navy" [biography, dated 6 February 1950] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
  • Organizations and Offices
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

John Forrest Floberg

28 October 1915-[death date unknown]

Appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air by President Truman on November 23, 1949, and confirmed by the Senate January 19, 1950, John F, Floberg succeeded to the vacancy created when Mr. Dan A. Kimball was elevated to the post of Under Secretary of the Navy.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 28, 1915, Mr. Floberg is the son of Mrs. Emily Jurney Floberg and the late Mr. Frederick O. Floberg. He received his preparatory education from Loyola Academy and Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the latter in 1936. There he was editor of the College Yearbook and Literary Magazine; played on the varsity basketball team for two years; was a member, for three years, of the College Debating Team; and was a member of the Blue Key Society, Pi Alpha Lambda (social fraternity), and several honorary fraternities.

From 1936 to 1939 he studied Law at Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he earned a place on the editorial staff of the Law Review, (and was a member of Lincoln’s Inn Society and the Elihu Root Law Club). After graduation with the Bachelor of Laws degree, he was associated with the largest law firm in Chicago: Kirkland, Fleming, Green, Martin and Ellis.

In November 1941 Mr. Floberg moved to Washington, DC, to serve in a civilian capacity in the Contracts Section of the Shipbuilding Division, Bureau of Ships, Navy Department. He volunteered for service in the US Naval Reserve, and, appointed Ensign, reported for active duty on December 27, 1941, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He subsequently was promoted to Lieutenant (jg) on March 1, 1943; to Lieutenant on April 1, 1944; and to Lieutenant Commander, to date from October 19, 1945.

After accepting commission in the Naval Reserve, Mr. Floberg continued duty in the Bureau of Ships, Navy Department, until detached in July 1942 for two months indoctrination at the Midshipmen’s School, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. In September of the same year he reported to the Submarine Chaser Training Center, Miami, Florida, and following instruction there proceeded in December to the Seabrook Yacht Corporation, of Seabrook, Texas, where he assisted in fitting out the USS SC-770. He went aboard that submarine chaser upon her commissioning on January 1, 1943, and was in command from March 27, 1943 until December 1943.Under his command, the SC-770 participated in the Tunisian operations, Sicilian occupation, and Salerno landings.

He returned to the Submarine Chaser Training Center at Miami in January 1944, and after brief duty reported for three months instruction at the Ordnance and Gunnery School, Naval Gun Factory, Navy Yard, Washington, DC. In June 1944 he was transferred to the Naval Training Station, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia, in connection with Assembly and Training Program for Destroyer Escorts; and thence to the Navy Yard, New York, New York, for duty connected with fitting out the USS Goss (DE-444). He served aboard that destroyer escort from her commissioning in August 1944, until August 1945, during which period she participated in the Lingayen Gulf and other Lingayen landings, the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima and Okinawa; and the Third Fleet operations against Japan.

In August 1945, he was designated Executive Officer of the USS Bivin (DE 536), and in October assumed command of that vessel, being simultaneously promoted to Lieutenant Commander. He continued in command of the Bivin until March 1946, and after terminal leave was released from active duty on June 11, 1946. For World War II service he is entitled to the American Campaign Medal; the European- African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three combat stars; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars; the Philippine Liberations Ribbon with one star; the World War II Victory Medal; and the Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp.

Mr. Floberg returned, after release from active duty, to the practice of law in Chicago, Illinois.

END

Published: Fri May 28 14:06:20 EDT 2021