to the

 

"First  USS Laffey  (DD 459) Launched October 30, 1941 Bethlehem Steel San Francisco Yard Commissioned March 31, 1942   Sunk late in the Sea Battle of November 12 & 13, 1942, off Guadalcanal   Resting in "Iron Bottom Sound" off Guadalcanal."

Index to the 459

"Second  USS LAFFEY  (DD 724) Launched November 21, 1943 Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine Commissioned February 8, 1944 Final Decommission March 29, 1975   Now proudly afloat at Patriot's Point, Charleston harbor, South Carolina."

"Probably no ship has ever survived an attack of the intensity that she experienced"
Samuel Eliot Morison, Naval Historian

Commendations and Battle Ribbons
USS Laffey (DD 724)

Presidential Unit Citations awarded to both the 724 and 459

USS Laffey (DD 459)

Southwest Pacific

September 13 - November 15, 1942

 

USS Laffey (DD 724) 

Okinawa, Radar Picket Station #1

April 16, 1945

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This site is dedicated to all destroyers that fought so valiantly in all theatres of World War II and in Korea, and especially to the two USS Laffeys (DD 459 and DD 724) that saw action during these periods.

Presently, the USS Laffey (DD 724) is part of the
 Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum
located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

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For those of you new to the site, you can navigate its contents in one of three ways: Use the Index Use the Summary of Revisions Click on any of the links The most recent additions and revisions are usually highlighted on the Home Page (see below) The Summary of Revisions gives you a more comprehensive summary of changes

Sign in at our Association Guest Book

 

Notice:   Spring Work Party Cancelled for 2009  

   Work Parties for 2009 are CANCELLED!

Due to Necessary Repairs!        

 

 Help Wanted:     Laffey Work Party   CANCELLED FOR 2009 
           Contact Association President Sonny Walker at: soncher724@comcast.net to reserve you 'a' bunk!

Roster of 'volunteers' that showed up in September:




 

 

   September '08 Work Party Photo  
Click on the Photo for an Enlarged view.


Reunion Time is getting close!

   LAFFEY REUNION RESERVATION FORMS FOR BRANSON, MISSOURI!!

1. 2009 LAFFEY REUNION RESERVATIONS FORM
2.  2009 LAFFEY REUNION Scheduled Activities

   Additional Information:

Click Your Mouse Here:  More Information from Reunion Committee



2009 Reunion
Place Your Mouse on Scroll to Stop
 

The Laffey Work Parties

are
Cancelled for 2009

SORRY!




The 2009 Laffey Reunion

will be in Branson, Missouri, Oct. 4th -7th
Reunion details
are now available,
2009 LAFFEY REUNION Scheduled Activities are Posted.








  Keep Checking Back to this Web

as new information
is posted regularly...

 
 

   Work Parties for 2009 Are Now CANCELLED!

Because of Necessary REPAIRS!        

 

Click Here:  Printable When Known for 2010 Reunion
 

Nation Honors its WWII Heroes
Watch the old black and white video below, two minutes
into it honors the USS Laffey, Commander Becton, and
the 32 men dead or missing from
April 16, 1945, Japanese Kamikaze attacks
Great video from that long ago!
Be patience, it takes sometime to load..


After viewing the video, place your mouse on the top of the    
screen and type in USS Laffey in the blank box, and click the
magnifying glass.  It will then offer more videos of the USS    
Laffey.  Some videos that John Hudak placed on U-tube!       
  Click your mouse on one. After viewing, go back and click on  
the magnifying glass and it will bring the Laffey menu back.  


Below are the Videos of the Kamikaze
attacks to the Laffey April 16, 1945

After viewing this video, place your mouse on the top of the screen   
and type in "Dogfights Kamikaze" in the blank box, and click the    
   magnifying glass.  It will then offer more videos. 2, 3 and 4 are on the  
       USS Laffey.  Click your mouse on one.  After viewing, go back and click 
   on the magnifying glass and it will bring the same Dogfights Kamikaze
 menu inorder to select a different video.                                             


 Check Out the Ship's Store now with Photos

Day of the Kamikaze wins Gold Award




Reunion Time is getting close!

   LAFFEY REUNION RESERVATION FORMS FOR BRANSON, MISSOURI!!

1. 2009 LAFFEY REUNION RESERVATIONS FORM
2.  2009 LAFFEY REUNION Scheduled Activities

   Additional Information:

Click Your Mouse Here:  More Information from Reunion Committee

New Entries:

   July 01, '09 
Just in Time
Hotel Reservasations for Dry Dock


June 29, '09
  Great News! 

  The Laffey is Going to be Saved 

Taps:  James Abaied 
Obituary
Guest Book:  Daniel Abaied   Joe Morrison
Guest Book:  Ted Thompson   Mary Sellers Gott

  June 20, '09 
Some Thoughts

  June 16, '09  
Guest Book:  William E. Miles

  June 12, '09 
Taps:  William S. Blackstock, Sr.
Obituary

June 09, '09
Taps:  Robert E. Johnson
Obituary
Guest Book:  Ronald L. Jeffcott

February  26, '09
2009 Laffey Association Reunion


   Sale Started:  November 12, 2008  

Click on the Photo Below

“The Indestructible USS Laffey”
By Slavomir J. Vodenhal
Radarman 1/C




The Written Book
"The Ship That Would Not Die"
F. Julian Becton

Alex Churchill's Photo:
North Korea - Wonsan Harbor 1952

Click here:  History Channel  USS Laffey 
There are five parts on the Laffey.  The first two are on the 459.
The next three parts are about the 724.  Great videos.
You must watch the advertisements to view all the videos!
Thanks to Glen Radder for information on these videos.
Ari Phoutrides, Glen Radder, Jim Spriggs, and
Lawrence Delewski are interviewed in these videos.


Laffey Website Earns Two Awards

   MORE COMMENTS  on the "Dogfights" Video,  What People Have Written: 
Comments are added when we get them.  Since the History Channel aired,
there are comments sent to us almost daily.  Some days we get several.  The
History Channel has shown the "Dogfights" video of the Laffey two times.
Click on this link:  "Dogfights" USS Laffey  to view a mini-clip of it.
Use your 'back' button to return to the Laffey web sit.

 Aired on July 13, 2007  a Mini Clip of the USS Laffey "Dogfight"   link below:

Click Here:  "Dogfights"  USS Laffey

 

Visit The LAFFEY Web Site Often...      New Materials are Added...       Questions?     Comments?       E-mail Me...         

Webmaster

Last revised: Thursday, July 02, 2009

Index to Website

Summary of Revisions

As of June 25, 2008