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Contact Info
Home Town Altoona, Blair County PA
Last Address Virginia Beach City, Virginia
Date of Passing Sep 28, 2012
Location of Interment Eastern Shore Chapel Cemetery - Virginia Beach, Virginia
Louis was a 1949 graduate of Altoona High School and enlisted in the Naval Reserve. In 1950, he entered the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. All the billets at Penn State University, in his hometown of Altoona PA were filled, so he transferred to the University of South Carolina and graduated in 1953. He returned to Penn State, where he matriculated in graduate studies in economics. He furthered his education by earning a Master of Science degree at George Washington University in 1965.
From 1949-82, Louis proudly and lovingly wore his uniform, from seaman recruit to convoy commodore, when he was routinely recalled to active duty from retirement (1983-1993) to train with the U.S. Merchant Marine in the convoy of merchant ships in wartime. He served on destroyers, commanding the USS McCloy, USS Jonas Ingram and Destroyer Squadron 2. He spent five years of his career on aviation staffs embarked on Atlantic Fleet carriers and from 1968 to 1971 worked in the destroyer development program in OpNav, 213-230.
His final tour of duty prior to retirement in January 1983 was as chief of staff to Commander Carrier Group Eight. The three rear admiral aviators he served were Bob Dunn, Jim Service, and Jerry Tuttle.
Other Comments:
From the ASSOCIATION OF AVIATION:
LOUIS COLBUS, CAPT., born June 16, 1931, Altoona, PA, and has a MS degree. He joined the service in September 1949 and retired in January 1983. CAPT Colbus received the LOM (Legion of Merit).
Assignments: Commanded USS McCloy (DE-1038); USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938); Destroyer Squadron TWO, Carrier Division. He participated in the Cuban Blockade 1962-63, and Vietnam 1966-67.
Captain Colbus served on the Advisory Council of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in 2010.
His final request: In lieu of flowers or charitable contributions, friends, family, and shipmates are encouraged to treat a friend to dinner.
Description The blockade began October 21 and, the next day, Kennedy delivered a public address alerting Americans to the situation. In his speech, he warned a frightened American public that the missiles on Cuba were capable of hitting Washington, D.C. or anywhere in the southeastern portion of the country, the Panama Canal, Mexico City or “as far north as Hudson Bay, Canada, and as far south as Lima, Peru.” A military confrontation appeared imminent when Kennedy told his audience that he ordered the evacuation of the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and put military units on standby. Boldly, he stated, “one path we shall never choose is the path of surrender or submission.”
Khrushchev responded by sending additional ships—possibly carrying military cargo—toward Cuba and by allowing construction at the missile sites to continue. Over the following six days, the Cuban Missile Crisis, as it is now known, brought the world to the brink of global nuclear war while the two leaders engaged in tense negotiations via telegram and letter.
Fortunately by October 28, Kennedy and Khrushchev had reached a settlement and people on both sides of the conflict breathed a collective but wary sigh of relief. The Cuban missile sites were dismantled and, in return, Kennedy agreed to close U.S. missile sites in Turkey.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
October / 1962
To Month/Year
November / 1962
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories LOUIS COLBUS, CAPT., born June 16, 1931, Altoona, PA, and has a MS degree. He joined the service in September 1949 and retired in January 1983. CAPT Colbus received the LOM (Legion of Merit). Assignments: Commanded USS McCloy (DE-1038); USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938); Destroyer Squadron TWO, Carrier Division. He participated in the Cuban Blockade 1962-63, and Vietnam 1966-67.
