Willard R. Laughon
Willard Ross Laughon was a double Navy Cross recipient submarine commander during World War II who reached the rank of captain in the United States Navy.
Early life
Willard Ross Laughon was born on January 29, 1911, in Princeton, West Virginia, to Fred Thomas and Mattie Virginia Laughon. In 1929 he was accepted to the United States Naval Academy, and graduated in 1933.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 making cruises up and down the west coast. His following assignment was aboard the.In 1936 he married Alice Mellott of Salisbury, Maryland and was assigned to the Submarine School at New London, Connecticut.
In 1940, he aided in the recommission of the and took part in ten war patrols, the last four of them as commander.