GUS B. LOFBERG, JR., LCDR, USN
Gus Lofberg, Jr. '27
Lucky Bag
From the 1927 Lucky Bag:
Gustave Brynolf Lofberg
Oakland, California
"Gus" "Swede"
AS a lineal descendant of Lief Ericsson and other old Norse sea-wolves, Gus has followed his natural destiny in taking up the profession of seafaring. He comes direct from the shores of Lake Michigan and while he doesn't deny that he received his start as a fresh water sailor, ambition leads him to the briny deep to become a real deepwater seaman. It is confidently expected that he will achieve his ambitious ends, as he is a hard worker, loyal to friends, and knows the way around. An admirable sense of modesty betrays him into denying many of his fine qualities, but those who know him are quick to assert that Gus is sound timber. As proof of this, be it noted that the wild and wicked cities of Gertebourg and Antwerpen didn't lead him astray, that is not very far astray.
But enough of praise. Gus has many faults and weaknesses and he meets more at every hop. Weaknesses, to be sure, which he has often struggled to overcome, with but varying success, for the girls will write and Gus is human. He also carries generosity to an extreme and has on many occasions saved the party from financial, social and civil disaster. Still we hesitate to count such big-heartedness among his faults.
Happiness and good luck are sure to follow him through life and success must surely crown his naval career for he was right when he told the English soldier: "I'm one of those military blokes myself."
Football: Class (1); Soccer: Class (2, 1) Class Numerals (1).
Gustave Brynolf Lofberg
Oakland, California
"Gus" "Swede"
AS a lineal descendant of Lief Ericsson and other old Norse sea-wolves, Gus has followed his natural destiny in taking up the profession of seafaring. He comes direct from the shores of Lake Michigan and while he doesn't deny that he received his start as a fresh water sailor, ambition leads him to the briny deep to become a real deepwater seaman. It is confidently expected that he will achieve his ambitious ends, as he is a hard worker, loyal to friends, and knows the way around. An admirable sense of modesty betrays him into denying many of his fine qualities, but those who know him are quick to assert that Gus is sound timber. As proof of this, be it noted that the wild and wicked cities of Gertebourg and Antwerpen didn't lead him astray, that is not very far astray.
But enough of praise. Gus has many faults and weaknesses and he meets more at every hop. Weaknesses, to be sure, which he has often struggled to overcome, with but varying success, for the girls will write and Gus is human. He also carries generosity to an extreme and has on many occasions saved the party from financial, social and civil disaster. Still we hesitate to count such big-heartedness among his faults.
Happiness and good luck are sure to follow him through life and success must surely crown his naval career for he was right when he told the English soldier: "I'm one of those military blokes myself."
Football: Class (1); Soccer: Class (2, 1) Class Numerals (1).
Loss
Gus was lost when USS Little (APD 4) was sunk was sunk near Guadalcanal by Japanese surface forces early in the morning of September 5, 1942. He was the ship's commanding officer.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Born in Michigan, Gus graduated from Grand Haven high school in 1921.
He married Norma Costella of Santa Cruz, and they had a daughter Lynn.
The U. S. S. Lofberg was named in his honor. She was commissioned on April 26, 1945, in San Francisco. Sponsored by his wife, the ship was launched on August 12, 1944, at the San Francisco ship yards of Bethlehem Steel company.
In 1910, Gus’ family lived in Racine, Wisconsin. His brother Gordon born in January 1910, died of pneumonia in February 1911. In 1920, the family lived in Grand Haven, Michigan. His father was a lieutenant commander who served in the U. S. Geodetic Survey and in the Coast Guard. Gus’ mother was Wilma, brothers were Theodore and Willard, and sisters were Lillian (Mrs. Amos Warren of Oakland) and Rosamond.
His wife was listed as next of kin. He is included at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
Silver Star
Gus' Silver Star citation was quoted in part in the Santa Cruz Sentinel on August 8, 1943:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Little during action … when hostile vessels moved in under the misty haze of night and bombarded our shore positions, Lieutenant Commander Lofberg, although seriously handicapped by limitation of fire power and reduction of armament, unhesitatingly steamed forward to challenge the attacking foe. Suddenly spotlighted under a flood of illumination from two forces of Japanese destroyers, he fought his ship with courageous determination and grim defiance, well aware that she was unequipped to engage an outnumbering force in battle. Scoring several hits on the enemy while attempting to withdraw before a vigorous curtain of fire, he kept his guns blazing away until the Little was eventually struck and set aflame. His brilliant leadership and relentless fighting spirit, maintained with utter disregard for personal safety, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States naval service.
Related Articles
Harry Bauer '27 was in command of USS Gregory (APD 3), which was also lost in this action.
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
January 1928
April 1928
July 1928
October 1928
January 1929
April 1929
July 1929
October 1929
January 1930
April 1930
October 1930
January 1931
April 1931
October 1932
January 1933
April 1933
July 1933
October 1933
April 1934
July 1934
LCDR Albert Rooks '14
LCDR Charles Cecil '16
LT Paul Register '21
LT William Gray '21
LT George Brooke '21
LT Howard Healy '22
LT Edward Metcalfe '22
LT Eugene Elmore '22
1LT Charles Kail '23
LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25
October 1934
LCDR Albert Rooks '14
LCDR Charles Cecil '16
LT Paul Register '21
LT William Gray '21
LT George Brooke '21
LT John French '22
LT Howard Healy '22
LT Edward Metcalfe '22
LT Eugene Elmore '22
January 1935
LCDR Albert Rooks '14
LCDR Charles Cecil '16
LT Paul Register '21
LT William Gray '21
LT George Brooke '21
LT John French '22
LT Howard Healy '22
LT Edward Metcalfe '22
LT Eugene Elmore '22
April 1935
LCDR Albert Rooks '14
LCDR Charles Cecil '16
LT Paul Register '21
LT William Gray '21
LT George Brooke '21
LT John French '22
LT Howard Healy '22
LT Edward Metcalfe '22
LT Eugene Elmore '22
LTjg Heywood Edwards '26
October 1935
CDR Samuel Moore '13
LT William Gray '21
LT John French '22
LT Howard Healy '22
LT Edward Metcalfe '22
LT Eugene Elmore '22
LT Richard Gingras '25
LTjg Ralph Hickox '27
January 1936
CDR Samuel Moore '13
LT William Gray '21
LT John French '22
LT Howard Healy '22
LT Edward Metcalfe '22
LT Eugene Elmore '22
LT Richard Gingras '25
LTjg Ralph Hickox '27
April 1936
CDR Samuel Moore '13
LT William Gray '21
LT John French '22
LT Howard Healy '22
LT Edward Metcalfe '22
LT Eugene Elmore '22
LT Richard Gingras '25
LTjg Ralph Hickox '27
July 1936
January 1937
April 1937
September 1937
January 1938
July 1938
January 1939
October 1939
June 1940
November 1940
April 1941
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