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Contact Info
Home Town Aurora, IL
Last Address Burial: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington Arlington County Virginia, USA Plot: Sec: 25, Site: 3977
Date of Passing Jan 20, 1972
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Sam Colby Loomis, Jr. (NSN: 0-74977), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving on board a United States Submarine, during her FIRST and SECOND War Patrols in enemy Japanese-controlled waters during World War II. Performing all assigned duties with superb professional ability, Commander Loomis rendered invaluable assistance in pressing home bold and aggressive attacks against Japanese surface vessels, contributing immeasurably to the success of the submarine in sinking and damaging an important mount of hostile shipping. His wise counsel and keen observation on the bridge, especially during periods of enemy gunfire, were of inestimable aid to his Commanding Officer in conducting these vital patrols, and his outstanding leadership, cool courage and unwavering devotion to the completion of each perilous mission reflect the highest credit upon Commander Loomis and the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Pacific Fleet Board Awards: Serial 53 (March 24, 1944)
Action Date: World War II Service: Navy Rank: Commander Division: United States Submarine
Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Sam Colby Loomis, Jr. (NSN: 0-74977), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. STINGRAY (SS-186), during the ELEVENTH War Patrol of that Submarine in enemy Japanese-controlled waters from 26 May to 10 July 1944. Directing his ship in the rescue of survivors of the Marianas Islands and in the Western Caroline Islands, Commander Loomis rendered valuable service and, on one occasion, braved hostile aerial attack to rescue five Naval aviators within range of accurate fire. By his devotion to duty he assisted in saving the lives of many who might otherwise have perished and his devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Commander Loomis is authorized to wear the Combat "V".)
General Orders: Pacific Fleet Board Awards: Serial 77 (November 20, 1946) Action Date: May 26 - July 10, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Commander Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Stingray (SS-186)
Other Comments:
Ensign: 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.): 6 June 1938
LieutenantL 1 January 1942
Lieutenant Commander: 1 May 1943
Commander: 1 March 1944
Sam Colby Loomis, Jr., graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1935; his father, Sam, Class of 1903 and brother, David Fowler Loomis, Class of 1941. All three retired as Navy Captains.
Description The plan of the Pacific subseries was determined by the geography, strategy, and the military organization of a theater largely oceanic. Two independent, coordinate commands, one in the Southwest Pacific under General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and the other in the Central, South, and North Pacific (Pacific Ocean Areas) under Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, were created early in the war. Except in the South and Southwest Pacific, each conducted its own operations with its own ground, air, and naval forces in widely separated areas. These operations required at first only a relatively small number of troops whose efforts often yielded strategic gains which cannot be measured by the size of the forces involved. Indeed, the nature of the objectivesùsmall islands, coral atolls, and jungle-bound harbors and airstrips, made the employment of large ground forces impossible and highlighted the importance of air and naval operations. Thus, until 1945, the war in the Pacific progressed by a double series of amphibious operations each of which fitted into a strategic pattern developed in Washington.
