USS SLC...Enlisted Navy...Thelmer S. Lokken, S2c

Thelmer Lokken passed away on July 4th, 1992

---

March 17th, 2004
I am the nephew of Thelmer S. Lokken. Thelmer or "Thelm" as we called him, loved to fish for walleye and camp out in the Northwoods. My brother and I had some good times with our very special uncle who enjoyed life to the fullest! As he always used to say, Life is too short. He tried to make every moment count.

He worked at the Forum Cafeteria as an electrician, but I think his last job was at some apartments in North Minneapolis. I'd have to check to find out the name of it.

The Forum had dumb waiters for sending the plates and things down to the kitchen from upstairs, but his particular invention was installing brackets under the tables so the trays could be stored there instead of on the tables where people were eating their cafeteria meal.

I think Thelm was mostly working on refrigeration but he probably also did odd jobs. His wife Karen worked in the salad department and that is how they met, at the Forum in downtown Minneapolis. She would know a lot more about his work than I do.

I wasn't aware of his service record until his funeral when it was mentioned. All I had known was that he was in the Navy, but not of the actual battle locations where he had been. Last week his last brother Oscar died. A couple years ago in March my dad Stan also died. So I was searching the internet for anything on the Lokkens in my family and came upon your site because Thelm was listed there.

If anyone remembers "Thelm", please contact
Don Lokken, nephew

#16 in picture with Elect. Dept., Japan, Oct. 1945
According to the SLC Deck Log, T. S. Lokken boarded the SLC on Dec. 21st, 1942
Assocding to the Jan. 20th, 1943 SLC Deck Log he was transferred to US Naval Hospital, Navy #603, for treatment.

When the war is over, Thelmer S. Lokken, 23 year old seaman first class, will have a tangible reminder of how the Yanks struck and destroyed the Japs.

After a year and a half hitch in the Pacific, Lokken brought home the steering wheel from a Japanese cargo ship blasted and beached by American guns at Kwajalein.

On leave at his home, the seaman today told how he had to free the wheel from the grip of a dead Jap.

Most notable of his sea experiences was a three and three quarter hour engagement in the Bering sea in March of 1943, against several Jap cruisers and destroyers that outnumbered the American force two to one.

He said the enemy, despite superior numbers, suffered severe punishment.

Lokken was in on the bombardment of Kiska when the Yanks prepared to launch a landing there. He also was at Tarawa when the Navy bombarded that stronghold preparatory to invasion.

Two nights later the task force was attacked by 15 Jap torpedo planes. All were picked off, with Lokken's ship bagging three.

The seaman, a graduate of Boys' Vocational high school, has three brothers in the service. Stanley, 21, is in the Army and Oscar and Arnold, 19 year old twins, are in the Marines. Fifth of the Lokken brothers, Melvin, 17, will be entering some branch of the Armed Forces in the Fall.