Battle of Tassafaronga
Gust J. Swenning was born on 2 August 1917 at Manor, Texas. He enlisted in the Navy on 9 September 1938. Upon completion of basic training at San Diego, California, he was transferred to for duty. After participation in the defense of Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, and operations off Guadalcanal and in the Solomon Islands, "Swenning" was still serving in New Orleans on 30 November 1942. That night, Imperial Japanese Navy forces began the Battle of Tassafaronga, Solomon Islands.