On Sept. 13, 1950 during the Korean War five US Navy destroyers sailed into the hostile waters off Inchon, Korea to take out the shore guns in advance of the Marine landings planned for the 15th. The USS Mansfield DD-728, USS DeHaven DD-727, USS Lyman K. Swenson DD-729, USS Collett DD-730 and the USS Gurke DD-783 stood off the coast and bombarded targets on Inchon and Wolmi-Do Island. Three of them got a little too close in their zeal to silence the shore guns.

All well within range the Lyman K. Swenson, Collett and Gurke were damaged by the  Korean guns. The Collett was hit between 4 and 7 times causing five casualties but thankfully no deaths. Gurke was hit three times receiving some minor damage but once again no deaths. That leaves the Swenson, while she did not receive a direct hit, shell splinters from two near misses killed two of her crew including Lt. (jg) David H. Swenson, nephew of the ship's namesake Capt. Lyman K.  Swenson. Capt. Swenson was the commanding officer of the USS Juneau CL-52 and was killed when the Juneau was sunk by the I-26 on Nov. 13, 1942.

The destroyer group received the Navy Unit Citation for the action at Inchon. The Lyman K. Swenson, which had served in World War 2, Korea and later in Vietnam was ultimately sold to Taiwan and used for spare parts.

USS Lyman K. Swenson DD-729 off Boston, Massachusetts July 1944.

Burial at sea of Lt. (jg) David H. Swenson on board the USS Toledo CA-133. The USS Lyman K. Swenson
DD-729 is seen in the background.