Maynard W. Tollberg

Maynard W. Tollberg (1904–1943) was a United States Navy sailor killed in action during World War II. He received a posthumous Navy Cross for his actions.

Maynard W. Tolberg
Born(1904-02-17)February 17, 1904
North Branch, Minnesota
DiedJanuary 30, 1943(1943-01-30) (aged 38)
Pacific Ocean, near Guadalcanal
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Naval Reserve
Years of service1923–1927
1942–1943
RankWatertender Second Class
UnitUSS La Vallette (DD-448)
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsNavy Cross

Tollberg was born at North Branch, Minnesota, on February 17, 1904. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on September 24, 1923 and was honorably discharged on September 15, 1927.

After the beginning of World War II, Tollberg reenlisted on June 23, 1942 with the same rating. He was assigned duty on board the destroyer USS La Vallette (DD-448).

On the afternoon of January 30, 1943, during the second day of the Battle of Rennell Island, La Vallette was screening the damaged heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29) when 11 Japanese torpedo planes attacked. La Vallette received a torpedo hit in her forward engine room which killed 22 members of the crew.

Watertender Second Class Tollberg, although fatally scalded by high-temperature steam, painfully climbed up the fire room ladder and emerged on the main deck through a hatch which had been blown open by the detonation. Despite severe pain and partial blindness, he expended his dying strength trying to close the control valve through which fuel oil was pouring into the fireroom below, where a number of his helpless shipmates were trapped. Tollberg then collapsed and soon died of his wounds.

Awards

Watertender Second Class Tollberg was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

Commemoration

The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Tollberg (DE-593) was named for Watertender Second Class Tollberg. She was converted during construction into the high-speed transport USS Tollberg (APD-103), and was in commission as such from 1945 to `1946.


References

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