Lyman Knute Swenson
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Lyman Knute Swenson (23 October 1892 – 13 November 1942), born in Pleasant Grove, Utah, graduated from the Naval Academy 2 June 1916. After service on board Vermont (BB-20) and Denver (C-14), he prepared for submarine duty. After serving on board D-1 during World War I, he was given command of H-6, 26 May 1919.
In 1921 he returned to surface ships, serving in Arkansas (BB-33) and 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.
For his “extraordinary heroism...daring and determination...” Captain Swenson was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
In 1943, the destroyer USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) was named in his honor.
[edit] References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
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Categories: Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | 1892 births | 1942 deaths | Navy Cross recipients | United States Navy officers | American military personnel of World War I | United States submarine commanders | American World War I killed in action | People from Utah
