USS Lafayette SSBN 616

The Lafayette Association is a fraternal organization for United States Navy Submariners who served aboard the nuclear powered fleet ballistic missile submarine USS Lafayette (SSBN-616). The primary purpose of the association is to provide an opportunity for the members to enjoy camaraderie with former shipmates and other submariners with a common background of service aboard the Lafayette, and to provide the opportunity for members to actively participate in reunions and other activities of the association.

Shipmates Identified: 271 Officers & 1983 Crew

including 105 on Eternal Patrol for a total of 2254

Association President's Messsage

I am pleased to be your President for 2010-11 and to plan the next reunion in 2011. At the present time our plan is to have the reunion in conjunction with the USSVI National Convention at Springfield, MO from Monday September 5 to Sunday September 11, 2011. I would appreciate any and all support for this endeavor. Anyone who would like to be in charge of the reunion please let me know. I have asked Herb Wise to scout out the area and help find out what it entails to have the reunion with USSVI.

Sally and I were not able to attend the 2009 reunion but do plan to attend the next one. We feel that it is very difficult to fly anymore when we have to bring the power wheel chair and the Moyer lift, Sally's bones break easily and we must use the lift and a sling for transfers. So we will just plan to travel by car.

I have really enjoyed being a part of USSVI in "Denizens of the Deep" base in Aiken, SC and to be able to renew our camaraderie with my shipmates from Lafayette. We have at least seven members in DOTD from Lafayette. One is Henry Harrara, retired VADM and past CO of the USS Lafayette.

My heartfelt thanks for Bill Fraser and Herb Murphy for finally getting the first reunion together in 2005 at Tunica, I always wondered if there would ever be a Lafayette reunion and am pleased that we can renew our friendships.

If there is anything that I can do as your President please let me know and until Springfield, be safe and do try to attend the next reunion, it is really fun to visit with old crewmembers.

As always your crewmember and brother submariner,

Edwin (Ron) Knight

USS Lafayette Association President

ET1(SS) US Navy/MK1 Ret USCG Reserve

803-642-9678

kni6500@gmail.com

USS Lafayette Association

The USS Lafayette Association was conceived by Bill Fraser & Herb Murphy on the back porch of Herb's home in Gamaliel, AR on Aug 27, 2004. When Bill started this website on Nov 27, 2004, he had contact information for less than 10 shipmates, so he started searching to find shipmates. Bill and Herb organized the Inaugural Reunion in Tunica, MS, without any assistance. Then only 6 months and 4 days after the website was started the Reunion was held from May 31 to Jun 3, 2005 and there were over 120 in attendance, including both of the commissioning crew Commanding Officers Patrick Hannifin and James Strong. A business meeting was conducted where the Association was formed, By Laws were approved and officers elected.