a record for most Soviet submarines trailed during the period, and the crew was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. Honors and awards: Meritorious Unit Commendation 1968 Meritorious Unit Commendation 1969 Presidential Unit Citation 1969 Navy Expeditionary Medal (Sub Specop) Submarine Division 62 Battle Efficiency Award (Battle "E") 1969 Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for Operational Proficiency for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet 1970 Submarine Division 63 Battle "E" 1970 Navy Unit Commendation 1973 Meritorious Unit Commendation 1979 Submarine Squadron 6 Anti-submarine warfare (ASW)/Operations "A" 1979 Submarine Squadron 6 Engineering "E" 1979 Meritorious Unit Commendation 1982 Submarine Squadron 6 ASW/Operations "A" 1982 Meritorious Unit Commendation 1983 Navy Battle "E" 1983 Meritorious Unit Commendation 1985 Navy Battle "E" 1985 Arctic Expedition Ribbon (Ice Exercise (ICEX) 88) 1988 Navy Battle "E" 1991 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. The sail was transported from Bremerton Washington to Springfield Missouri. Reassembly was in 2005 at Vietnam War Memorial Post 639 thanks to the work of Runner Base of USSVI. Most costs were donated by businesses and patriotic Americans. Five past commanders attended the dedication ceremony. Commemoration Lapons 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 with bi-annual reunions. The song “Ballad of Whitey Mack” by Tommy Cox was written in honor of Lapon and her commanding officer, Chester Mack. Awards 1968, Meritorious Unit Commendation 1969, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Presidential Unit Citation, Submarine Division 62 Battle Efficiency "E" 1970, Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for Operational Proficiency, for the Atlantic Fleet, Submarine Division 63 Battle Efficiency "E" , Navy Expeditionary Medal (Sub Specop) 1973, Navy Unit Commendation 1979, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Submarine Squadron Six ASW/Operations "A", Submarine Squadron Six Engineering "E" 1982, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Submarine Squadron Six ASW/Operations "A" 1983 Northern Run Artic Expedition? 1983, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Battle Efficiency "E" 1985, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Battle Efficiency "E" 1988, Arctic Expedition Ribbon, ICEX 88 1991, Navy Battle Efficiency "E" References NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive Lapon (SSN-661) External links