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Home Town Aurora, Illinois
Last Address Captain Loomis was interred with his loving wife, Priscilla at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2007.
Date of Passing Feb 03, 2007
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
CAPTAIN DAVID FOWLER LOOMIS, U.S. Navy, Retired, quietly continued his voyage onward, departing Houston, Texas on Saturday morning, February 3,2007. He was born into a Navy family in Aurora, Illinois on July 1, 1919, to Sam Colby Loomis and Harriet Fowler Loomis. David followed his father's and brother's legacy as graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy; his father, Sam, Class of 1903 and brother, Sam C. Loomis, Jr., Class of 1935. David graduated in 1941. All three retired as Navy Captains.
On June 8, 1946, David married Priscilla Harrington at the Naval Academy Chapel. Subsequently in the 58 years of their marriage and his Navy career, they lived in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Subic Bay, Philippines and Taiwan, Republic of China, as well as numerous other locations across the United States. Captain Loomis had a distinguished 31-year career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy with 20 seagoing and shoreside billets, including 5 commands. He also received over 27 awards and citations throughout his career.
David retired in May, 1972 and settled in the South Merritt Island/Melbourne, Florida area until August, 2000 when he and Priscilla relocated to Houston, Texas to be closer to family. He is survived by children, David Fowler Loomis, Jr. and his wife Judy C. of Spring, Texas, Paul Harrington Loomis of Oro Valley, Arizona, and Elizabeth Loomis Bryant and her husband Clifton L. of Kenner, Louisiana; grandson, David Fowler Loomis, III and his wife Heather and their children (David's great-grandchildren), Katherine Marie Loomis and Cody David Loomis of Keller, Texas and another grandson, Christopher Raymond Loomis and his wife Jane of Providence Village, Texas.
As his voyage continues and his ship nears the horizon, he appears to be gone; however, this is not so. As he departs from our sight he is appearing to others beyond the horizon watching him arrive. Godspeed, fair winds and following seas.
Captain Loomis will be interred with his loving wife, Priscilla at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2007.
Other Comments:
David FowlerLoomis, Sr., graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1941; his father, Sam, Class of 1903 and brother, Sam Colby Loomis, Jr., Class of 1935. All three retired as Navy Captains.
notes: Loomis, Daniel David WWI
Date
Not Specified
Last Updated: Nov 22, 2010
Comments
Loomis, Daniel David Boatswain's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy U.S.S. Fanning Date Of Action: November 17, 1917
Citation: The Navy Cross is awarded to Boatswain's Mate Second Class Daniel David Loomis, U.S. Navy, for distinguished service and devotion to duty while serving on the U.S.S. Fanning. Boatswain's Mate Loomis was bridge lookout on November 17, 1917, when the Fanning engaged and captured the German Submarine U-58. He exhibited remarkable alertness, initiative and ability as a lookout, in sighting and reporting the periscope, only a small part of which was visible.
World War I and the Action of 17 November 1917
Based on Queenstown, Ireland, Fanning and her sister destroyers patrolled the eastern Atlantic, escorting convoys and rescuing survivors of sunken merchantmen. At 1615 on 17 November 1917, Coxswain Daniel David Loomis sighted the periscope of U-58, and the Officer of the Deck Lieutenant Walter Owen Henry ordered the destroyer to attack. Fanning's first depth charge pattern scored, and as destroyer Nicholson joined the action, the submarine broke surface, her crew pouring out on deck, hands raised in surrender. The depth charge had hit near the submarines diving planes, forcing the submarine to surface, and also knocked out the main generator aboard Fanning. If U-58 had surfaced in battle ready mode, Fanning would have surely been lost. Fanning maneuvered to pick up the prisoners as the damaged submarine sank, the first of two U-boats to fall victim to US Navy destroyers in World War I. Coxswain Daniel David Loomis and Lieutenant Walter Owen Henry both received the Navy Cross for this action.
Fanning continued escort and patrol duty for the duration of the war. Though she made numerous submarine contacts, all of her attacks were inconclusive. On many occasions, she went to the aid of torpedoed ships, rescuing survivors and carrying them into port. On 8 October 1918, she picked up a total of 103 survivors, 25 from a merchantman and 78 from the Dupetit-Thouars.
Fanning passed in review before President Woodrow Wilson onboard the transport George Washington in Brest Harbor on 13 December, then remained at Brest until March of the following year. After a quick voyage to Plymouth, England, Fanning departed Brest for the States, by way of Lisbon, Portugal, and Ponta Delgada, Azores, in company with several other destroyers, and escorting a large group of submarine chasers. Fanning was placed out of commission at Philadelphia on 24 November 1919.
