Laboon (DDG 58) - Naval Cruise Book

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Fearless Fifty-Eighths Namesake Fearless Fifty-Eight honors the distinguished career of Captain John Francis Jake Laboon. Chaplain Corps. U.S. Navy. Known to most simply as Father Jake , he devoted his life to service to God. Cttuntry and the Navy. A football star and National Championship Lacrosse A 1 1 - A m e r i c a n , Laboon graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy as a member of the class of 1 944. Assigned to I h c submarine USS PETO (SS 265), then Lieutenant Junior Grade Laboon won the Silver Star for bravei y fcM diving from his moving submarine to rescue a downed aviator undei ' heavy enemy fire. At he close if World War IL Lieutenant Laboi i left the Navy to become a Jesuit priest. In 1 958. F ither Labc on returned to the Navy he loved as a nemberof he Chaplain Coips. Oveithc next 2 1 ye u s, he sei V ' d in viilually evei M-anch ot the Navy and Marme Corps. Hu issignments included tours in Alaska, Hawaii Japan and Vietnam. As a Chaplain with tht Mllllllfk 111 Vlt ' llll Lciiion of Merit wi h Combat In additio wm-s. Father Labcx a became t le first chaplain for the Polaris Submai ine Progra the Senior Chaplai i at the Na Naval Academy h renaming the Clniplain ' s Ce When he retired i the Fleet Chaplain, career ended, F Annapolis as the m. Father to his hei lic service in two louse mar CTtTTnTTTTTTnTfW •V . land later became ' al Academy. The IS honoredFather Laboon by Iter in his honors. 1979, Ca 3tain Laboon was et. When his na al tlantic El ither Laboon returned to acer of the Jesuit retreat facility, Mani esa-on- Severn. His final tour of duty was as pastor of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church in WoodsttK ' k, Maryland. When he passed away in 1 9SS, Father Jake left behind countless senice members and theii- families whose lives he had touched w ilh his compassion anel undcistanding. His coui ' age and genuine interest and concern for all his shipmates was then, is now. and will forever remain an extraordinary example for voung Sailors and Mamies everywhere. It is indeed an honor for DDG 58 to be nameel for such and outstanding na al heio. Jake Laboon 1