Willard R. Laughon

Willard Ross Laughon (29 January 1911 – 5 June 1999) was a double Navy Cross recipient submarine commander during World War II who reached the rank of captain in the United States Navy.^[2]

Willard Ross Laughon
Midshipman Laughon
Born	(1911-01-29)January 29, 1911[1] Princeton, West Virginia[1]
Died	June 5, 1999(1999-06-05) (aged 88)[1] Stuart, Florida
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1933–1963[1]
Rank	Captain
Commands	USS R-1 (SS-78) USS Puffer (SS-268) USS Rasher USS Orion (AS-18) Submarine Squadron 12
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards	Navy Cross (2)
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy
Spouse	Alice Mellott[1]

Early life

Willard Ross Laughon was born on January 29, 1911, in Princeton, West Virginia, to Fred Thomas and Mattie Virginia Laughon (née Waddell). In 1929 he was accepted to the United States Naval Academy, and graduated in 1933.^[1]

Early military career

Upon graduating from Annapolis, Laughon was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy. His first duty assignment was aboard the USS Arkansas making cruises up and down the west coast. His following assignment was aboard the USS Idaho.

In 1936 he married Alice Mellott of Salisbury, Maryland and was assigned to the Submarine School at New London, Connecticut.^[1]

In 1940, he aided in the recommission of the USS R-1 and took part in ten war patrols, the last four of them as commander.^[1][3]

World War II

On December 9, 1943, Laughon took command of the USS Rasher based in Fremantle, Australia. Ten days later the USS Rasher set off for the South China Sea along with the USS Bluefish to lay mines and sink shipping.^[3]