Lyman Knute Swenson

Infobox Military Person
name=Lyman Knute Swenson
lived=birth date|1892|10|23} – Death date and age|1942|11|13|1892|10|23


caption=Swenson in June 1942
nickname=
placeofbirth=Pleasant Grove, Utah
placeofdeath=Killed in action during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Navy
serviceyears=
rank=Captain
unit=
commands=USS Isabel (PY-10) Destroyer Division 64 USS Juneau (CL-52)
battles=World War I World War II *Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
awards=Navy Cross
relations=
laterwork=

Lyman Knute Swenson (23 October 1892 – 13 November 1942), [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-s/lk-swnsn.htm US People--Swenson, Lyman K.] Retrieved 2008-01-19] was an American naval officer. 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 "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.

Namesake

In 1943, the destroyer USS "Lyman K. Swenson" (DD-729) was named in his honor.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l33/lyman_k_swenson.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Lyman K. Swenson"]