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U S S LAFFEY ASSOCIATION INC

Cause Area

  • Arts & Culture
  • Children & Youth
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Veterans & Military Families

Location

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime MuseumMount Pleasant, SC 29464 United States

Organization Information

Mission Statement

The USS Laffey Association is a group of former crewmembers (and their supporters) who served on either of the U.S. Navy "USS Laffey" destroyer ships. The USS Laffey (DD459) had a relatively short life, so most of our membership and activities center around the USS Laffey (DD724), which is currently a museum ship located near Charleston, SC. The Association provides camaraderie amongst its members, education to the public, as well as both financial and manpower support to repair, maintain, and expand the museum ship and her historical displays. Incidentally, our organizational mailing address (9686 Baughman Road; Harrison, OH 45030) is 700 miles from the ship that we support because it is the home of our Treasurer.

Description

Although the Patriots Point Development Authority (PPDA) owns and maintains the USS Laffey (DD 724) museum ship, the USS Laffey Association supplements the PPDA's work by providing much needed manpower, supplies, and financial backing. We provide 15 to 30 workers, at least three times per year, to repair and paint steel, do electrical and plumbing work, as well as maintain and expand the museum displays. During these "workparties", we live and eat aboard the Laffey, in a portion of the ship set aside for only our use. We are entirely funded through private donations.

The USS Laffey (DD724) was commissioned by the U.S. Navy on 8 February 1944. On 6 June 1944, she provided fire support for the D-Day invasion of France. Of the 7,000+ ships involved in D-Day, only two U.S. warships still survive today- the USS Laffey and the USS Texas (BB-35, a battleship). On the 16th of April 1945, off the coast of Okinawa, the Laffey was hit by 8 Kamikaze planes and 8 bombs, yet did not sink. For this reason, this ship is known as "The Ship That Would Not Die". She was returned to a shipyard near Seattle where she was turned around within a few months and put back into service in the Pacific. She served in the Navy until 29 March, 1975. Now she is part of the State of South Carolina's museum complex called "Patriots Point", where she is berthed alongside the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, just outside of Charleston, and enjoyed by 800+ visitors per day.

Reviews

Would you recommend U S S LAFFEY ASSOCIATION INC?
2 reviews Write a review
by Lorrie T. (October 13, 2024)
Dear proud, humble, and patriotic veterans: I am writing this to tell all of you how much I really enjoyed being welcomed into the flock in maintaining and repairin the USS Laffey! I knew I would be helping out mainly with the cooking and cleaning responsibilities, but the entire experience exceeded my expectations. The dedication and pride you all exhibit does not go unnoticed. I think that if my daddy were to be looking down from Heaven, he would be smiling as I joined efforts and "locked elbows" with you all as one of your crewmates for a few days. I have always loved our men and women in unform, whether in active duty or as veterans. I just wish that more people could see your qualities and perhaps even embrace them from time to time. If they did, the world would be a whole lot better off for it! I will be joining the ranks as a member of the USS Laffey Association, and I enthusiastically look forward to seeing you again on the next Tour of Duty.
by James S. (October 6, 2024)
Meaningful and important work to help preserve Naval History.

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