Lloyd W. Lofback
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Lloyd W. Lofback served in World War II.
He served in the U.S. Navy beginning on September 21, 1943. Mr. Lofback, who had lost hearing in one ear, managed to pass his physical. After boot camp, Mr. Lofback was sent to Navy Service School (Electrical). He was assigned to the Electrical Division of the U.S. Naval Landing Force Equipment Depot in Albany, California. His crew delivered new and repaired LCVPs (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) and LCMs (Navy Landing Craft) to Navy ships in San Francisco Bay. He was discharged on June 2, 1946.
His rank was Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class.
Mr. Lofback received the World War II Victory Medal and the American Theater Medal.
He was born in 1925 in Virginia, Minnesota, the son of Wilfred and Lillian Lofback. He graduated from Virginia High School in 1943.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“I graduated June 1943. Went to Detroit, Michigan. Got a job driving a tractor, Willow Run Bomber Plant—B-24 Bombers. Draft got me. Had lost hearing in one ear. Cheated on hearing test, passed physical.
“Went into the Navy September 21, 1943. From boot camp and Navy Service School, Electric, sent to U.S. Naval Landing Force Equipment Depot, Albany, California, to Electrical Division. The depot was a converted horseracing track. We slept in stables converted to barracks. We delivered new and repaired LCVP’s, LCM’s and others to waiting ships waiting in San Francisco Bay. The base was the biggest on the West Coast. By war’s end, my rank had risen to EM 2/c. Did my assigned duties.
“Discharged June 2, 1946. Returned to Virginia, Minnesota.”
