Battle of Rennell Island
On the afternoon of 30 January 1943, during the second day of the Battle of Rennell Island, "La Vallette" was screening the damaged heavy cruiser 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, 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 died 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. He then collapsed and soon died of his wounds. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.