John Francis "Jake" Laboon Jr. (11 April 1921 – 1 August 1988) was an officer of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

, who served as a submariner in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

and as a

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chaplain A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secular institution (such as a hospital, prison, military unit, intellige ...

in the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

.Richard Gribble CSC ''Navy Priest: The Life of Captain Jake Laboon SJ'' Washington D.C.:

The Catholic University of America Press The Catholic University of America Press, also known as CUA Press, is the publishing division of The Catholic University of America. Founded on November 14, 1939, and incorporated on July 16, 1941,Roy J. Deferrari ''Memoirs of the Catholic Univer ...

, 2015.

Early life

Born in

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, Pennsylvania, on 11 April 1921, John Laboon attended the

Carnegie Institute of Technology Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of its predecessors was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools; it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology ...

for one year after high school. In 1939, he entered the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of ...

, where he excelled in both

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and academics. In 1942, he was a member of the All-East Football Team, and in 1943, "jumped ship" to

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, where he was selected for the Intercollegiate National Championship Navy Lacrosse Team, defenseman on the All-American Lacrosse Squad, and participated in the North-South All-Star game. He also served as president of the

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, a

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group.

World War II

After accelerated graduation in 1943, he trained as a submarine officer at

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, and upon completion, was assigned to USS ''Peto'' (SS-265). During his tour, Laboon served as Communications Officer, Gunnery and

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Officer, and

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. Lieutenant Junior Grade Laboon was awarded the

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an ...

for his heroic actions on ''Petos tenth war patrol. Following pick-up of a downed American pilot near

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, the crew searched for his wingman. The second aviator was soon spotted, but the water was shallow and

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, preventing ''Peto'' from maneuvering closer. To make matters worse, they were under intense enemy fire from a Japanese shore battery. The submarine's commanding officer called for a volunteer, and without hesitation, LTJG Laboon dove off the submarine. Swimming through the mined waters, he rescued the pilot.

Priesthood

Lieutenant Laboon resigned from naval service shortly after the end of World War II, and entered the

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(Jesuits) on 31 October 1946. On 17 July 1956, Father Jake was ordained a Jesuit priest at

Woodstock, Maryland Woodstock is an unincorporated community which is a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The original village of Woodstock is located in Howard County, and also includes portions of Baltimore County and Carroll County. History Thom ...

. Father Laboon then applied for a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve Chaplain Corps in February 1957, and in December 1958 was recalled to active duty. Over the course of the next 22 years, "Father Jake" served in various duty stations around the world, including

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, Japan and South Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he was awarded the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

with Combat "V" for his fearless actions as battlefield Chaplain with the

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in April 1969. Other notable milestones in a distinguished career, include the honor of nomination for promotion to the rank of admiral and service as chief of chaplains. The

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submarine program was also blessed with having Father Jake as its first chaplain. The U.S. Naval Academy was likewise honored with his services as the Senior Catholic Chaplain. On 31 October 1980, Captain Laboon retired as Fleet Chaplain,

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. After retirement from the navy, Father Laboon returned to

Annapolis, Maryland Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east ...

, to oversee the construction of the Jesuit-retreat facility, Manresa-on-Severn, within view of the U.S. Naval Academy. His final assignment was pastor of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church in Woodstock, Maryland. He served there until his death on 1 August 1988. In 1993, the destroyer USS ''Laboon'' (DDG-58) was named in honor of Father Laboon. The Chaplain's Center at the Naval Academy is also named in his honor.

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Laboon, John 1921 births 1988 deaths 20th-century American Jesuits American Roman Catholic priests United States Navy officers United States Naval Academy alumni Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Navy chaplains Vietnam War chaplains People from Woodstock, Maryland Catholics from Maryland