▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁For ward ▁Rep air ▁Party ▁of ▁the ▁, ▁when ▁struck ▁by ▁a ▁tor ped o ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁T ass af ar ong a ▁ 3 0 ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁which ▁det on ated ▁the ▁forward ▁mag az ines , ▁Sw en ning ▁un hes it ating ly ▁dove ▁through ▁the ▁oil ▁and ▁water ▁in ▁a ▁flo oded ▁compart ment ▁to ▁close ▁a ▁wat ert ight ▁door , ▁in ▁further ▁efforts ▁to ▁assist ▁in ▁bringing ▁the ▁dam aged ▁ship ▁to ▁port ▁he ▁labor ed ▁t ire lessly ▁and ▁continu ously ▁for ▁twelve ▁hours ▁after ▁the ▁c ess ation ▁of ▁the ▁action . ▁His ▁courage ous ▁dev otion ▁to ▁duty ▁was ▁in ▁keeping ▁with ▁the ▁highest ▁trad itions ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Naval ▁Service . ▁Sw en ning ▁died ▁just ▁a ▁few ▁days ▁later ▁on ▁ 1 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁and ▁was ▁post hum ously ▁awarded ▁the ▁Navy ▁Cross ▁for ▁his ▁val i ant ▁efforts ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁T ass af ar ong a . ▁ ▁She ▁was ▁laid ▁down ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁by ▁the ▁Brown ▁Sh ip building ▁Co ., ▁Houston , ▁Texas ; ▁launched ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 3 ; ▁spons ored ▁by ▁Miss ▁Her tha ▁Rh ode ; ▁and ▁commission ed ▁on ▁ 1 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁L T ▁Richard ▁E . ▁Pe ek , ▁Jr ., ▁US NR , ▁in ▁command