USS Lapon ( SSN - 661 ) USS " Lapon " ( SSN - 661 ) , a " Sturgeon " - class attack submarine , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the lapon , a scorpionfish of the Pacific coast of North America . Construction and commissioning . The contract to build " Lapon " was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News , Virginia , on 24 October 1963 and her keel was laid down there on 26 July 1965 . She was launched on 16 December 1966 , sponsored by Mrs . Charles D . Griffin , wife of Admiral Charles D . Griffin ( 1906 – 1996 ) , and commissioned on 14 December 1967 , with Commander Chester M . " Whitey " Mack in command . Service history . Upon commissioning , Lapon reported to Commander , Submarine Force , United States Atlantic Fleet for duty , with her home port at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk , Virginia . The Lapon ' s crew successfully passed an Operational Readiness Review in early 1968 after completing training programs in SuBaseNLon . In the spring Lapon deployed on a SpecOp for which it received its first MUC . In late summer Lapon returned to NNS & DD Co for post shakedown availability . In 1969 , Lapon participated in a training exercise before CNO , CinCLant and ComSubLant to demonstrate the feasibility of trailing another submarine . Following that exercise Lapon deployed on a second SpecOp and received a second MUC . Later in 1969 , while under the command of Commander Chester " Whitey " Mack , Lapon successfully tailed a Soviet Navy Yankee class ballistic missile submarine for a period of forty - seven days . Lapon followed the Yankee for the Yankees entire deterrent patrol and only broke contact when the Soviet submarine turned to go home . Lapon was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for the feat and Mack became famous in the submarine community for this noteworthy success , personally receiving the Distinguished Service Medal . Lapon was on routine deployment in the Med when the Yom Kippor war broke out on October 6 , 1973 . Lapon had been scheduled to make a three day libery run from La Magdelena , Sardinia to Athens , Greece , but instead deployed to the eastern Med when it monitored Soviet submarine activity , remaining at sea for 44 days . Returning to La Magdelena food stores were so low the crew had begun eating different kinds of meals . Because of the hasty departure when the war broke out , there were only three movies aboard . Two were terrible , and shown only once . The third movie was the 1971 release " Dirty Harry " which was shown twice a day for the entire deployment . Lapon set a record for most Soviet submarines trailed during the period , and the crew was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation . Decommissioning and disposal . Deactivated on 1 October 1991 while still in commission , " Lapon " was decommissioned on 8 August 1992 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton , Washington , and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day . Her scrapping via the Nuclear - Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program began on 1 March 2003 and was completed on 31 August 2004 . Commemoration . " Lapon " s sail was preserved as a war memorial at American Legion Post 639 in Springfield , Missouri . It was dedicated on 3 July 2005 . USS Lapon Association is an active group and all former shipmates are encouraged to attend bi - annual reunions . See website below .