Remember the ‘Scorpion’ - JCHS graduate Laughton Smith perished aboard U.S. Navy submarine in 1968

Laughton “Smeed” Smith, a 1960 graduate of Jefferson City High School, is pictured during his years of service in the U.S. Navy. Known for his outgoing personality and leadership, Smith went on to attend the U.S. Naval Academy and later served as a communications officer aboard the nuclear submarine USS Scorpion. He was among the 99 crew members lost when the vessel disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean in May 1968.

The early 1960s marked a tense and uncertain period on the global stage, as the United States and Soviet Union navigated the height of the Cold War. Beneath the surface of the world’s oceans, American naval forces carried out critical intelligence-gathering missions—often in silence and secrecy.

But such missions were not without risk.

Tragedy struck in April 1963 with the loss of the USS Thresher, a nuclear-powered attack submarine that sank during deep-diving tests, claiming the lives of 129 sailors and civilians. The disaster prompted sweeping safety reviews across the Navy’s submarine fleet, though not all vessels were immediately updated. Still, the inherent dangers of submarine service did little to deter one young Missourian.

Laughton Smith, a Jefferson City native, came of age in the 1950s with the same values shared by many of his generation—faith, service and community. He attended a local Presbyterian church and was active in the Boy Scouts, even teaching boating and canoeing skills at summer camps.
Despite his formal name, those who knew him best often called him “Smeed,” a nickname that reflected his approachable and easygoing nature.

A brief biography published in the 1965 edition of The Lucky Bag, the U.S. Naval Academy yearbook, described him as possessing “a winning personality, with a bright smile and heartwarming enthusiasm.”

After graduating from Jefferson City High School in 1960, Smith initially enrolled at the University of Missouri–Columbia when he was not selected as the principal nominee to the U.S. Naval Academy. That changed in the summer of 1961, when he received his own appointment.

“There were four of us from Jefferson City who graduated in 1960 and ended up going to a military academy,” recalled his close friend Jim Ayers. “Laughton and I went to the Naval Academy, while another classmate attended the Air Force Academy.”

Smith graduated from the academy in 1965 and entered the Navy as a lieutenant junior grade. He later reported to Groton, Connecticut, the hub of the Navy’s submarine force, where he began specialized training for nuclear submarine service. On April 8, 1967, Smith married Jane Victoria Graham at Immanuel Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware, her hometown. Shortly thereafter, the young couple settled in Norfolk, Virginia, where Smith received orders to report to the USS Scorpion. 

The submarine, a 3,500-ton nuclear-powered vessel, was considered a formidable component of the Atlantic Fleet. Yet behind its polished image, the Scorpion faced ongoing mechanical concerns. According to the book Blind Man’s Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage, crew members sometimes referred to the vessel as “USS Scrap Iron” due to persistent issues, including oil leaks and seawater intrusion through critical seals.

Compounding the concern, the Scorpion had not yet undergone a comprehensive overhaul to incorporate key safety improvements identified after the Thresher disaster.

In early 1968, the USS Scorpion deployed into the Atlantic as part of Cold War operations. On May 21, the submarine transmitted its last known communication while returning to Norfolk.
Six days later, on May 27, the U.S. Navy declared the vessel missing. At the time, the submarine was believed to be approximately 365 miles southwest of the Azores, navigating a region marked by deep ocean trenches and underwater mountain ranges. 

In a letter to his sister, Smith had mentioned ongoing issues with the submarine’s communications equipment, noting that he had been busy working to restore it. However, speculation surrounding the disappearance quickly spread. Some theorized the submarine had been struck by a Soviet torpedo, while others believed it may have collided with an underwater ridge or suffered catastrophic mechanical failure.

After an extensive five-month search, the wreckage of the USS Scorpion was located more than 10,000 feet beneath the surface, roughly 400 miles southwest of the Azores. All 99 crew members, including Smith, were lost. Initial Navy findings were kept classified for decades. It was not until 1993 that a report suggested the most likely cause: the submarine may have been destroyed by its own malfunctioning torpedo. “The torpedo was released from the tube, became fully armed and sought its nearest target—Scorpion,” the report concluded.

For those who knew him, the loss of Laughton Smith was deeply personal.

“Of the four of us from the Class of 1960 who went on to military academies, I was the only one who survived my period of service,” Ayers reflected.

“Laughton’s loss truly struck a chord within me because he was my best friend in high school, and our families were so close. He was only 27 when he disappeared.”

Ayers emphasized the importance of remembrance—not just for Smith, but for all who served.

“I want to make sure that the community is aware of his service to the nation and remembers his sacrifice, along with everyone else who died in service.”

Though decades have passed, the story of the USS Scorpion remains a sobering reminder of the risks faced by those who serve beneath the sea. For Jefferson City, Laughton “Smeed” Smith is more than a name tied to a historical tragedy. He is a son of the community—a young man whose life reflected promise, dedication and courage.
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And though his story ended far from home, his legacy continues to resonate.

Jeremy P. Ämick is author of the historical compilations "Moments on the Moreau" and "Beyond the Moreau." 

The USS Scorpion, a nuclear-powered attack submarine commissioned in 1960, is shown during its early years of service. Assigned to Cold War intelligence and patrol missions, the vessel disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean on May 21, 1968, with 99 crew members aboard. After months of searching, the wreckage was discovered more than 10,000 feet below the surface southwest of the Azores, marking one of the Navy’s most mysterious submarine losses.