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Service Details |
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Last Photo |
Personal Details
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Home State
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Year of Birth 1931 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Steven Loomis (SaigonShipyard), IC3
to remember
Colbus, Louis (Lou), CAPT USN(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town Altoona, Blair County PA |
Last Address Virginia Beach City, Virginia
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Date of Passing Sep 28, 2012 |
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Location of Interment Eastern Shore Chapel Cemetery - Virginia Beach, Virginia |
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Last Known Activity:
Captain Louis Colbus, U.S.N. (Ret.)
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.
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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.
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1949-1950, SR-0000, CSD RTC Great lakes, PSD Great Lakes
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1954-1954, 00X, Naval Communications Station (NAVCOMSTA) Key West, FL
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1954-1957, 00X, USS Albert T. Harris (DE-447)
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1957-1958, 116X, Destroyer Squadron 12 (DESRON 12), Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic (COMNAVSURFLANT)
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1958-1960, 111X, Commander South Atlantic Forces (COMSOLANT/USCOMSOLANT)
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1961-1963, 111X, USS John R. Perry (DE-1034)
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1963-1964, 111X, Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS)
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1965-1966, 111X, USS Basilone (DD-824)
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1966-1968, 111X, USS McCloy (DE-1038)
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1968-1971, 111X, CNO - OPNAV
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1971-1972, 111X, USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938)
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1973-1974, 111X, Carrier Division 6 (COMCARDIV 6)
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1976-1976, 111X, Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR/COTF)
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1976-1979, 111X, Commander, Naval Surface Group (COMNAVSURFGRU) 2
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1980-1982, 135X, Commander, Carrier Strike Group Eight (CCSG-8)
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1983-1993, 169X, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Staff)
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Reflections on CAPT Colbus's
US Navy Service
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY?
Captain Louis Colbus, USN (Ret.) (1931-2012). Selections from interviews with Paul Stillwell in Virginia Beach, Virginia, 1984. Based on three interviews conducted by Paul Stillwell from August through December 1984, the volume contains 388 pages of interview transcript plus an index. The transcript is copyright 2001 by the U.S. Naval | Captain Louis Colbus, USN (Ret.) |
Institute; the interviewee has placed no restrictions on its use. Enlisted, 1949 and Commissioned in 1954 after training as a NROTC midshipman at the University of South Carolina and Penn State University, Colbus initially served in the destroyer escort USS Albert T. Harris (DE-447) and on the staff of Commander Escort Squadron 12. He had temporary duty in late 1958 on the staff of Commander Task Force 88 for nuclear weapons testing and then was flag secretary, 1958-60, to Rear Admiral Edward C. Stephan, Commander South Atlantic Force. After he took the general line course at the Naval Postgraduate School, Colbus was executive officer of the destroyer escort USS John R. Perry (DE-1034). He had shore tours in the mid-1960s in the Bureau of Naval Personnel and as a student at the Naval War College. Back at sea, he was the Executive Officer of the destroyer USS Basilone (DD-824) during her first Vietnam deployment, then commanded the destroyer escort USS McCloy (DE-1038) in NATO ops. He was part of the program staff that developed the USS Spruance (DD-963)-class destroyers. In the early 1970s, he commanded the destroyer USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938), then served on the staff of Commander Carrier Division Six. After duty in the Operational Test and Evaluation Force, Colbus was one of the initial students in the Senior Officer Ship Material Readiness Course in Idaho and later commanded Destroyer Squadron Two from 1976 to 1979. His final tour of duty prior to retirement in 1982 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.
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
From 1949 until 1993, Captain Colbus proudly and lovingly wore his uniform-from seaman recruit to Convoy Commodore when he was routinely recalled to active duty from retirement to train with the merchant marine in the convoy of merchant ships in wartime. Captain Colbus served in destroyers, commanding USS McCLOY, USS JONAS INGRAM, and DESTROYER SQUADRON TWO.
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FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
Lou spent five years of his career on aviation staffs embarked in Atlantic Fleet carriers.
He loved the aviation community and often stated he would be reincarnated as a fighter pilot since he liked to live like one.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
Captain Colbus served 34 years of active duty and another ten assisting the Merchant Navy for a total of 44 years in uniform. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal.
He participated in the Cuban Blockade 1962-63, and Vietnam 1966-67. He also worked in the destroyer development program that developed the USS Spruance (DD-963)-class destroyers.
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IF KNOWN, PLEASE LIST ANY INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM HIS/HER TIME IN THE MILITARY WHO STOOD OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEM AND WHY?
Altoona Mirror (Newspaper) - February 5, 1975, Altoona, Pennsylvania Rabbi Cites Chaplains for Jewish Program. A letter of commendation, when It reaches home, speaks for itself. Submitted by Atty. Abraham Colbus of Altoona, the letter written by Rabbi Joel Balsam of the National Jewish Welfare Board is directed to | Torah Scroll |
Rear Adm. B. B. Forbes, USN, Commander. Carrier Group 6. FPO New York. The letter cites the report of Cmdr. Louis Colbus, newly promoted to captain, Capt. Colbus an Altoona native, is the nephew of Mrs. Jules Weinberg, and Anna, Paul and Abe Colbus, all of Altoona. Rabbi Balsam wrote: (Dec. 27. 1974). "In his recent report to us. Cmdr. Louis Colbus, Jewish lay leader for the USS America, informed us how the Protestant and Catholic chaplains of the USS America helped to make the recent high holy days meaningful for the small number of Jewish servicemen aboard. In Cmdr. Colbus' words: "Capt. John Zoller, the Protestant chaplain, made all the arrangements for the services, including an Oneg Shabat Yom Kippur night. He also chanted, in Hebrew, over the ship's public address system on one occasion and read from the JWB prayer book on another. Cmdr. Richard McCue, the Catholic chaplain, also devoted his evening prayer to a Yom Kippur theme one evening". "Realizing there were only seven Jews on the aircraft carrier with a population of 5,000 people, the expression, "Only in America" certainly applies in this situation". Cmdr. Colbus also informed us of your own personal interest in the success of the Jewish program aboard ship and of the sense of gratitude felt by the Jewish men. "In expressing our appreciation to you (and through you to Chaplains Zoller and McCue) we can think of no better words than these used by Cmdr. Colbus, "Only in America".
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ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
Paul Stillwell: What do you recall about liberty during that period? Captain Colbus: Well, there was one story about going ashore in Italy. This was before my dad died. We all went ashore in Naples as a closely knit squadron with this great man, Emmett Bonner, in command. On this occasion, | Colbus and his resemblance to actor Yul Brynner |
we had five of the seven skippers, myself, a few of the ops officers, and an exec or two. We mustered at the Grotto Romano, a nightclub situated on the side of the mountain overlooking Naples Harbor. During the evening, at about 11:00 o'clock, Lucky Luciano, the owner, and former U.S. gangster, appeared as the master of ceremonies. He approached the microphone, took the spotlight, and was making a presentation in Italian. We all commented that it was time for the floorshow. Lucky then translated into English, saying, "It gives me great pleasure to introduce a man who's brought great pleasure to the world. It gives me pleasure to introduce Yul Brynner."[1] All of a sudden, the spotlight fell on me. I, of course, am as bald as Yul Brynner and did resemble him. I stood up, took some bows, sat down, and shrugged my shoulders. Everybody laughed. Well, it started - free champagne, free drinks, autographs! About that time, a distinguished-looking gentleman came over and introduced himself as a United States general. He put his arm around me and said, "This young lady who is with me this evening is French. She met you five years ago in Paris and just wants to renew the acquaintance." She started in French, and I interrupted her as best I could by saying, in my high school French, "Enchantee, permittez-moi presenter . . ." At that time, Tom Walsh stood up; he had just completed a tour as assistant naval attaché in France, was now the skipper of USS Tweedy (DE-522).[2] Tom took over, did all the niceties, and got me off the hook. I couldn't speak French well enough to converse with this young lady. The general and I became great friends. We were arm in arm, drinking too much, and having a grand time. Somebody in the party asked, "What is he doing? Who is this guy pretending he's a general?" I said, "Well, I'm pretending I'm Yul Brynner. Who am I to criticize? If it makes him happy, let's relax and enjoy the evening." About 3:00 o'clock we broke up, and that was the end of that - so I thought. The next day the Commodore had to attend a briefing of Operation Deepwater in the flagship Pocono; I properly saw him off at the quarterdeck. He got in his 26-foot motor whaleboat, and away he went. About 2:00 o'clock he came back with, "Ding-ding, ding-ding, CortRon 12 arriving." He came aboard and said, "I've got to talk to you." We went up to his cabin. He said, "Remember that general?" "Yes, sir." "Well, he really was a general."[3] By the way, I had introduced the Commodore as Dr. Bonner, because, as I said, he was a very professional-looking man, elegant, and with well-groomed hands. He looked like a surgeon. While at this senior briefing of all the Commodores in the Mediterranean in 1957, and all during lunch, this general kept looking across the table and said, "Commodore Bonner, don't I know you from somewhere?" Then, almost into dessert, the general shouted, "Hey, you're not Commodore Bonner. You're Dr. Bonner." And, oh, boy, I guess even my good friend Emmett had some quivers and felt guilty. The Commodore just said, "The general wants to see you." I really knew my naval career was over. I went over to see the general. I arrived at USS Pocono and was escorted in to see the general. He was seated at a great desk with flags on either side. I was scared and overwhelmed. He warmly shook my hand and said that my performance was the best act he'd ever seen. He admired my ability to carry off a great coup. All his party thought that I was really Yul Brynner. He stated that any time I wanted to join his service, the Marine Corps, I was welcome to do so, and he would be my sponsor. Is that the way I told it to you before the tape started? Paul Stillwell: Well, there was more to it than that. Please go on. Captain Colbus: When I was in BuPers in 1964 as a newlywed, I was walking down the passageway between BuPers and the Marine Corps headquarters one day, and I passed my general friend from the night at Grotto Romano. We both did a double take. "Yes, Yul. What are you doing in town?" I told him I was stationed in BuPers. "What are you doing in town?" I told him I was now married. "How about being my guest this Friday at the Marine Corps Eighth and I ceremony?"[4] "Yes, sir, with pleasure!" He and I renewed our old friendship. We had a gala night at the Marine Corps retreat ceremony, and my new bride was impressed with my influential friends. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [1] Yul Brynner was a popular American movie actor of the period. His trademark was a completely bald head. [2] Lieutenant Commander Thomas W. Walsh, USN. [3] The individual was Brigadier General Ralph K. Rottet, USMC, who served as Commanding General, Fourth Provisional Marine Air-Ground Task Force in the latter part of 1957. [4] The Marine Corps barracks in Washington, D.C., is at the corner of Eighth and I streets, not far from the Washington Navy Yard. It is frequently the site of ceremonial presentations.
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
| Congressional Medal Advisory Council member |
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. In 2010 Captain Colbus served on the Advisory Council of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. He was the lowest ranking officer on the 9 man advisory council composed of six retired general officers, two flag officers, and him, a Navy Captain totaling 21 stars and a "full bird."
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE HIS/HER SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY THEY APPROACHED THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER?
| Jewish Pride in the Navy Day |
Commodore Levy Chapel, Naval Station Norfolk. Navy Captain Louis Colbus, then Chief of Staff for Commander, Carrier Group EIGHT, takes the first piece of cake during "Jewish Pride in the Navy Day," September 12, 1982, a community-wide celebration sponsored by the Commodore Levy Chapel (CLC), Naval Station Norfolk (NAVSTANORFOLK), Norfolk, Virginia. The cake shows the "Mariner's Tablets," the CLC symbol, based on the symbol for Jewish military chaplains (the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, topped by the six-pointed Jewish Star), but with the ship's wheel added at the top. Chapel complex. In addition to the Protestant and Catholic chapels that predate the Commodore Levy Chapel in the Frazier Hall chapel complex, a Muslim chapel/mosque was dedicated in November 1997.
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IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
Capt. Colbus, speaking of money, base pay scales and salaries back then...
"If I make more than the admiral, I guess the smartest thing is to keep my mouth shut" -- Navy Captain Louis Colbus. (Oct. 12, 1981)
WASHINGTON -- Under the new military pay scale, some servicemen and women could make more than generals and admirals. Capt. Louis Colbus isn't gloating or fretting. "If I make more than the admiral, I guess the smartest thing is to keep my mouth shut, take the money and run," said the Norfolk, Va., Naval Base officer.
Some generals and admirals won't get anything, but the new military pay hikes will mean about $50 a month more for privates, and captains will collect another $3,000 a year. The wage boost, the second sizable increase in two years, should show up in military paychecks later this month after President Reagan signs the law approved by Congress last week.
The raises -- ranging from 10 percent to 17 percent according to rank -- were passed in an effort to keep skilled and experienced personnel in the services. For officers, this year's raise is a flat 14.3 percent, but most generals and admirals will not get any more. That's because they already are up against the $50,000 pay ceiling imposed on all federal employees.
Colbus is a captain with 26 years of Navy service. He has a base pay of $3,849 a month. Including $410 in monthly sea pay, his monthly check comes to $4,259. With three straight years of sea duty, Colbus told The Norfolk Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star he was 'not embarrassed' to make more than an admiral.
"When you go to sea, you need enough to maintain a contingency fund,' he said. 'You ought to have enough money so that wife can get a new tire if one blows out, or that she can get the washing machine fixed if it breaks."
Rear Adm. Clinton Taylor, head of the Atlantic Fleet Training Command in Norfolk said he had no complaints about junior officers making more than their superiors. He said the increases would encourage some officers to stay in the Navy, rather than retire after 20 years.
The new raise comes on top of an 11.7 percent hike that went into effect last Oct. 1. Congress believes the increases will put military pay, when fringe benefits are considered, on a par with similar civilian jobs. It remains to be seen if military men and women agree and stay in the service.
Basic pay is only part of the income of military personnel. Military personnel also can get non-taxable housing and subsistence allowances, as well as extra pay for special skills or hazardous duty. For example, all officers can get a $94.39 monthly subsistence allowance.
Under the new pay scale, the smallest increase -- 10 percent -- goes to the lowest ranks. The monthly pay for a private with less than two years' service will go from $501.30 to $551.40. The monthly pay of a captain with eight years in the service will go from $1,753.20 to $2,004 -- an annual base pay of about $24,000. A colonel with 16 years service will get about $37,500 a year.
An enlisted grade E6, with eight years service, will be paid $1,060.50 per month -- $12,720 a year -- instead of the current $910.20 monthly. The base pay for an E9 can reach $2,130 per month -- about $25,500 a year -- with 26 years' service. That is 17 percent above current pay.
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HOW EFFECTIVE HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM BEEN IN HELPING YOU RECORD YOUR REMEMBERED PERSONS MILITARY SERVICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
| U.S.N. TogetherWeServed |
This Reflections Profile is a collection of quotes and other stories about Captain Louis Colbus, U.S.N. (Ret.). His final request was: "In lieu of flowers or charitable contributions, friends, family, and shipmates are encouraged to treat a friend to dinner". Thank you for stopping by. DS 9/21/17
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