Father Jake Laboon attended Carnegie Technical Institute for one year after high school. In 1940, he entered the Naval Academy, where he excelled in both athletics and academics. In 1942, he was a member of the All-East Football Team, and in 1943, “jumped ship” to Lacrosse, where he was selected for the Intercollegiate National Championship Navy Lacrosse Team, defenseman on the All-American Lacrosse Squad, and participated in the North-South All-Star game. He also served as President of the Newman Club, a Catholic support group. After accelerated graduation in 1943, he trained as a submarine officer in New London, Connecticut, and upon completion, was assigned to U.S.S. Peto (SS 267) earning a Silver Star in one of the submarineÕs war patrols. Lieutenant Laboon resigned from Naval service shortly after the end of the war and entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) on 31 October 1946. On 17 July 1956, he was ordained a Jesuit Priest at Woodstock, Maryland. He then applied for a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve Chaplain Corps in 1957, and in December 1958 was recalled to active duty. Over the course of the next 22 years, Father Laboon served in various duty stations around the world, including Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, and Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat V, for his fearless actions as battlefield Chaplain with the 3rd Marine Division in April 1969. He was nominated for promotion to the rank of Admiral and services as Chief of Chaplains. On October 31, 1980, Captain Laboon retired as Fleet Chaplain, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. He then went to Annapolis to oversee the construction of the Jesuit-retreat facility, Manresa-on-Severn, which was within view of the U.S. Naval Academy. His final assignment was pastor of Saint Alphonsus Rodriquez Church in Woodstock, Maryland.