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37k | Arthur Leonard Gustafson, son of Martin Aldin Gustafson and Alma Gustfson, was born 13 June 1913 in Watertown, South Dakota. He grew up in Watertown and graduated from Watertown High School in 1931. He attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion and was a 1936 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. While serving state side, Arthur married Eva Gladys Smythe on July 18, 1939 in Washington, D.C. The couple had no children. Lt. Gustafson enlisted in the United States Navy on 16 June 1932 at Annapolis. Appointed a midshipman in June 1932, he was commissioned an ensign in 1936 and served aboard the battleships Idaho and Colorado. He was commissioned a Lieutenant in 1939 while aboard Colorado. He reported to duty on the destroyer USS Peary in September 1939 where he served as a gunnery officer. He was appointed lieutenant for temporary service in January 1942. Lt. Gustafson earned the China Service Medal while serving in Peary from 1939 to 1940. A hero, Lt. Gustafson died defending his ship and fellow servicemen when the Japanese attacked Peary in Port Darwin, Australia February 19, 1942. According to a newspaper report, Lt. Gustafson refused to leave his guns under fire and was one of the last six of Peary's crew on board when the ship went down. The Navy posthumously awarded Lt. Gustafson the Purple Heart, which was accepted by his parents. Lt. Gustafson is listed as "Missing in Action or Buried at Sea." His name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. An example of the many brave men and women who lost their lives defending our freedom, Lt. Gustafson was honored again by his country when the United States destroyer escort Gustafson was named and launched in his honor 3 October 1943. (Text respectfully submitted by Susan Stoneback, Pierre, South Dakota, 15 August 2002; from Sons and Daughters of South Dakota - State of South Dakota) USS Gustafson (DE 182) (1943-1946) was the first ship named in his honor. (Photo from the U.S. Naval Academy Yearbook; The Lucky Bag, Class of 1936.) |
Bill Gonyo | |
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104k | undated wartime image | Nick Tiberio | |
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251k | undated wartime image (Images were given to my wife's uncle, Leon F. Powers, upon leaving service in 1946 at Great Lakes, Ill.) | Paula & Steve Mitchell | |
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| Gustafson Memorabilia |
Launch Button Courtesy of Tom Kermen |
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