LYMAN K. SWENSON, CAPT, USN

Lyman Swenson '16

Date of birth: October 23, 1892

Date of death: November 13, 1942

Age: 50

Lucky Bag

From the 1916 Lucky Bag:

Lyman Knute Swensen

Provo, Utah

"Swanse" "Pinkey"

KNUTE the Terrible Dane came to us from the polygamous wilds of Utah. But his troubles were by no means over when his change of residence became permanent. From the instant that his sunny smile and glorious crown of hair incarnadine were seen by the first class they marked him for their very own. Many the monument that was unveiled thereafter, with Swanse playing the title role, and many the Plebe in the year 1913 that thanked his lucky stars that his name was not Swenson when the imperious bellow for "Swanse! Swanse" reverberated down the corridor.

Swanse early blossomed forth as an athlete. In a basketball game Plebe Year he threw a basket while the coach was watching, and was immediately placed on the training table, where he stayed approximately two weeks, returning at that time, full of honors, to his proper table, where he resumed his statuesque behavior.

But these activities are not Swanse's forte. By no means! As a breaker of hearts he is the peer of his classmates, be they ever so witty, be they ever so dexterous with the tea-cup and sandwich, or be they ever so handsome. The secret of his charm is his dear gray, unspoiled eye, his wholesome laugh, and his refreshing, ingenuous, unsuspecting want of tact. Swanse never utters an insincere word, never voices an unhappy thought, always has the best of intentions and whenever he opens his mouth usually manages to put his foot in it. Acrobatic, that last, but the truth.

Not many weeks from now this ruddy-cheeked Berserker with the heart of a man and the tenderness of a woman will walkover the gangway of a battleship and call it "home." To most of us he will be lost, for the Service is very wide. But the memory of the old lovable Swanse will always awaken in the hearts of his classmates a pang of regret that the parting had to be.

In the lap of Fortune lie the cards of our futures, and some of us will draw blanks. But if we could only stack the cards Swanse would have the best that Fortune holds for those whose hearts are solid gold.

"Willie, you claim to know everything, tell me this."

Buzzard; Lacrosse Squad (2, 1); Lacrosse Numerals; Basketball Squad (4).

Lyman Knute Swensen

Provo, Utah

"Swanse" "Pinkey"

KNUTE the Terrible Dane came to us from the polygamous wilds of Utah. But his troubles were by no means over when his change of residence became permanent. From the instant that his sunny smile and glorious crown of hair incarnadine were seen by the first class they marked him for their very own. Many the monument that was unveiled thereafter, with Swanse playing the title role, and many the Plebe in the year 1913 that thanked his lucky stars that his name was not Swenson when the imperious bellow for "Swanse! Swanse" reverberated down the corridor.

Swanse early blossomed forth as an athlete. In a basketball game Plebe Year he threw a basket while the coach was watching, and was immediately placed on the training table, where he stayed approximately two weeks, returning at that time, full of honors, to his proper table, where he resumed his statuesque behavior.

But these activities are not Swanse's forte. By no means! As a breaker of hearts he is the peer of his classmates, be they ever so witty, be they ever so dexterous with the tea-cup and sandwich, or be they ever so handsome. The secret of his charm is his dear gray, unspoiled eye, his wholesome laugh, and his refreshing, ingenuous, unsuspecting want of tact. Swanse never utters an insincere word, never voices an unhappy thought, always has the best of intentions and whenever he opens his mouth usually manages to put his foot in it. Acrobatic, that last, but the truth.

Not many weeks from now this ruddy-cheeked Berserker with the heart of a man and the tenderness of a woman will walkover the gangway of a battleship and call it "home." To most of us he will be lost, for the Service is very wide. But the memory of the old lovable Swanse will always awaken in the hearts of his classmates a pang of regret that the parting had to be.

In the lap of Fortune lie the cards of our futures, and some of us will draw blanks. But if we could only stack the cards Swanse would have the best that Fortune holds for those whose hearts are solid gold.

"Willie, you claim to know everything, tell me this."

Buzzard; Lacrosse Squad (2, 1); Lacrosse Numerals; Basketball Squad (4).

Loss

Lyman was lost when USS Juneau (CL 52) was sunk at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942. He was the ship's first and only commanding officer.

His (2nd) wife, Lauretta, was listed as next of kin.

Personal Life

"Captain Lyman K. Swenson, USN, ashore at Fox Harbor, Newfoundland, 14 June 1942, while he was in command of USS Juneau (CL-52)."

Lyman was previously married to Milo Abercrombie; they had two children together. The marriage ended in 1925 and turned incredibly bitter, including Milo making accusations of molestation. Lyman was awarded sole custody of the children (Cecilia and Lyman Jr.) by the California Appellate Court in 1929.

Career

Twelfth Naval District Headquarters, San Francisco, California Officers of the headquarters staff, December 1923. Those present are (front row, left to right): Captain Stanford E. Moses, USN, Assistant to the Commandant; Rear Edward Simpson, USN, Commandant, 12th Naval District; Captain George H. Barber, USN(MC), and Captain Ammen Farenholt, USN(MC). (rear row, left to right): Chief Pharmacist William T. Gildberg, USN; Lieutenant Errol W. Willet, USN(DC), (possibly); Lieutenant John H. Buchanan, USN; Lieutenant Commander John P. Bowden, USN; Lieutenant Albert H. Rooks, USN; Lieutenant Lyman K. Swenson, USN; Commander Albert S. Rees, USN, and Commander John Irwin, USN(SC). U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

From Wikipedia:

Swenson was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah and graduated from the Naval Academy on June 2, 1916. After service on board Vermont (BB-20) and USS Denver (C-14), he prepared for submarine duty. After serving on board USS D-1 (SS-17) during World War I, he was given command of H-6, 26 May 1919.

In 1921 he returned to surface ships, serving in USS Arkansas (BB-33) and USS New Mexico (BB-40), before commanding Isabel (PY-10) and then Destroyer Division 64. Juneau (CL-52) came under his command 18 December 1941 while still under construction. The newly promoted captain and the newly built light cruiser were both lost in the latter stage of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 13 November 1942. Twice torpedoed during what historian S. E. Morison called the “wildest most desperate sea fight since Jutland”, Juneau sank rapidly, taking under the captain and most of her crew, including the five Sullivan brothers. This battle prevented the Japanese from landing reinforcements on Guadalcanal.

Navy Cross

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Lyman Knute Swenson (NSN: 0-9624), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Light Cruiser U.S.S. JUNEAU (CL-52), during an engagement with Japanese naval forces near Savo Island on the night of 12 - 13 November, 1942. On this occasion the force to which Captain Swenson was attached engaged at close quarters and defeated a superior enemy force, inflicting heavy damage upon them and preventing the accomplishment of their intended mission. This daring and intrepid attack, brilliantly executed, led to a great victory for his country's forces. By his indomitable fighting spirit, expert seamanship, and gallant devotion to duty, Captain Swenson contributed largely to the success of the battle and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 313 (April 1943)
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Juneau (CL-52)

Namesake

USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD 729) was named for Lyman; the ship was sponsored by his daughter.

Related Articles

Albert Rooks '14 was also on the staff of the Twelfth Naval District in December 1923.

Class of 1916

Lyman is one of 16 members of the Class of 1916 in Memorial Hall.

• ← Oscar Erickson '16
• Cassin Young '16 →