Bill Elrod

I served with Bill Elrod on the USS Jack SSN-605 in the 1970's. He was a decent guy and a good shipmate. He is now on Eternal Patrol with his shipmates from the USS Scorpion. The lord had reason to keep him around for the rest of us to know and work with him.

Patrick Kerrigan

Gordon,Tammy,Chris,Mike,Ashley. We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Our condolence to family & friends. We all will hold on to the memories.

To the Elrod family, You Dad and I were shipmates on the BILLFISH, and he was the best Chief of the Boat I have in my 22 years of service. He was a very understanding person who always provided guidance as needed with an even temper and sound jugdement. I was proud to be a shipmate and friend and both Mary and I will miss him.
Shipmate rest your oars.
Howard and Mary Kligge Rock Creek Ohio

To the family,
I can say I have the honor of knowing Bill. I say have because I will always remember him. I met Bill in 1998 when I became a Mason in Moosup Lodge No:113. He was a kind, thoughtful, and knowledgeable man. I moved away in 2003 and unfortunately did not keep in touch. Ironically, I started reading a book about the USS Scorpion last night and decided to get back in touch with him. Sadly, just this afternoon I learned I was too late. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.

Bill was my dad. I was away when he passed and unable to say my good byes. My dad was a wonderful man and a great friend to all who knew him. He spent alot of time talking to me when I needed him. For that I will always be greatful. I have some really fond memories of him. The spaghetti plate is still the funniest of all. He helped to take away the fear I was feeling and helped me see the end of a journey. He was my dad and my friend. Now he is with my mom and at peace. I love you dad. Colleen

Gordon, Tammy, Chris, Michael and Ashley,
Our deepest sympathy go out to you in this difficult time. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Dot Dot- We are just so incredibly sorry. You are always in our thoughts and prayers. We love you. Maggie, Greg, Brandon & Casey

Gordon and Family,
I want to extend my sincerest sympathy at the passing of your father. He sounds like such a wonderful person and a definite hero to our country. Thank you for posting all those wonderful pictures which gave those of us who did not have the pleasure of meeting your dad a glimpse into his life and personality. My prayers are with you and yours.

Dear Elrod Family,
I served with Bill in the early 70's at SSEP, Groton. He was always a "go to guy" and as I bumped into him for many years off and on in our Navy careers and afterwards whilst we worked to keep the "fast boats" going I will always remember him as a friend and a great sailor. God Bless You.
V/r
Peter Fazio STSCS(SS) USN, Ret.
Gales Ferry, CT

Dottie I will miss my swimming buddy who made me laugh and always remembered the crabbies. My heart goes out to you and I will be here if you need me. Love you, Bonnie

Gordon and Family,

I am sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. Please know that my prayers are with you and your family at this time of sorrow. I wish I could be there and pay my respects. It meant a great deal to our family to see your family at my dad's service. May good memories provide you peace from this day and always.

To Dottie and the Elrod Family.

I am so sorry about Bill's passing and your loss.

I only knew Bill for a relatively short time. He joined us at SUBVETS Groton Base several years ago. For whatever reason he had been very reluctant to join SUBVETS for a long time.

But when he did join and I got to know him and his background with USS SCORPION he instantly gained my respect.

He never forgot his good fortune in getting off SCORPION just before their loss, and he never forgot all of his Shipmates on board who made the supreme sacrifice.

At every SUBVETS Memorial Service that he could make, Bill Elrod always proudly held the USS SCORPION Lost Boat Flag. That meant a lot to him, and it was an inspiration to us.

Bill and I also shared a similar background. We had both served on the USS BILLFISH (SSN 676) and we were both COBs on the USS DALLAS (SSN 700).

In 2007 and 2008 Bill and I Dottie and Dee worked together on the USS DALLAS Reunion. He was fun, did what needed to be done and did it well. At the reunion itself I could tell by the people that had served with him that he was liked and respected by all who had served with him.

To Dottie and his sons you knew him as a husband and a father. To all of his friends, and his shipmates he was a good friend, a mentor, and a good man.

He will be missed by all of us, and the world is a sadder place without him.

HAND SALUTE

There is a port of no return where ships may lie at anchor for a little space. And then some starless night the cable slips leaving an eddy at the mooring place. Gulls vear no longer. Sailor rest your oar. No tangled wreckage will be washed ashore.

Shipmate Bill Elrod. . . Rest your oar

John Carcioppolo
U.S. SUBVETS Groton Base
Base Commander

Dear Dorothy & family,
Our thoughts & prayers go with you. God bless your families and give you peace in this time of sorrow. With sympathy,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
We are sorry for your loss.
Bruce & Eileen Bassett
SS341 (68-69)
EN1 SS

I worked with Bill at Sonalysts, where we were on the same team. He was always a gentleman. My condolences on your loss.

Dorothy and Family, I consider myself very lucky to have meet Bill, if even for such a brief time. He was a true patriot to our country, and a true gentleman in all accounts. The world has lost a true hero on many levels and he will be missed by so very many. My heart and prayers go out to all of you as I know this was a very unexpected loss to us all. I'm keeping you close in my thoughts and heart while you continue to deal with the loss of such a great husband, father. grandfather and friend. Much love and support to you all. Jennifer & Eric Johnson

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your dad. I have many fond memories of him from my childhood and will never forget how kind he always was to me. Our prayers are with you.

Linda, Robb and Meagan Schrock

Nancy and Gordon,Sorry for your
loss.God bless and keep you.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Gordon and Family,
I was sorry to hear about your dad. I know what a loss it is, but remember he will alway be with all of you and in your hearts forever. Love to you all.

I served with Chief Elrod when we were both on the USS Jack. To me, he was always an example of what a good sailor should be-- caring about his shipmates, fun to be around, decent and fair to us lower ranked enlisted guys when he was chief of our duty section. I spent some time with him when the Jack had a reunion several years ago, and then a few years later when several of us got together in Groton. He was the same warm, quiet, decent man I had known years before. Know that my prayers are with his family and many friends in the New London area. I am sure that Bill is now with his lost shipmates in a place where there are no more tears.

Gordon and Family,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My deepest sympathies and you are in our prayers.

COB,
Fair Winds and Following Seas. Thanks for your leadership and mentoring. You will be missed.

Wayne Hakenjos, FTC/SS (RET) USS DALLAS (1982-1985)

Sailor, rest your oar.

To the Elrod Family,
I know that time alone cannot assuage the grief of your loss. I hope with God's help and comfort, that you will find peace in your memories, and shared experiences with Bill.

Chief Elrod,
I am thankful for the honor of serving with you on the Dallas. The kind, patient example of leadership you set, taught many of us who served with you to be better men. I was glad to be able to see you again at the Dallas reunion a few years ago. May God keep you in his eternal peace.

Ken Aitken STS1(SS)(SSN700) 1982-86.

Sorry to hear about Bill's passing. He was a shipmate of mine on the USS Jack. My heart and prayers are with his family. Rest your oars sailor.

Gordon,Tammy,Chris,Mike&Ashley
We are very sorry for your loss. Gordon,you had a great Dad. Bill was also a wonderful Grandpa.If you ever need us Gordon,we will always be there for you. We were very fortunate to have known Bill. Our sympathy to all Bill's family. You all have precious memories. God Bless You. Our Prayers are with you.

It was an honor to sail with Bill on the Chivo. Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Bill and I worked together at Electric Boat, although I didn't know Bill as long as I would of liked, I enjoyed every moment of it. Always a gentlemen and he will be missed. My prayers go out to his family and friends.

Gordon and Family,
We are so sorry to hear about your Dad. We will always remember him for his kind and gentle ways. You are all in our thought and prayers.

My sincere condolonces to the Elrod Family. As a retired Chief Sonar Technician (Submarines), I can only wonder how Bill felt when the Scorpion was lost. I lost a close friend on the Thresher. My prayers and thoughts are with you on this sad day. Let's remember Bill for all the good things in his life, not just his passing.

STSC(SS) George Van Teslaar
Beverly Hills, FL

Bill has been serving as a docent at the Submarine Museum and it is there that I have begun to know him. He has been a very quiet, kind and gentle person. I am very sorry to hear of his passing. My best regards to all the family.

Going to miss you my friend..

Gordon & Tammy

I'm sorry for your loss. He was a good man and he will be missed. Love you guys.

Fair Winds and Following Seas COB. You were a great man and a great mentor.
Wayne Tagg, 1983-1987-IC1/SS USS DALLAS

I'm very sorry for your loss.

I served with Chief Elrod on the USS Jack.
Farewell to a great shipmate!

To all of Bill's family and Dottie, I've been Bill's stylist for many years, but looked at him more as a father figure rather than a client. He was so very kind and good to me and the girls at Create A Cut. This is a truly sad day, I will send out prayers to all of you! Lisa the blonde...

To the Family of Bill Elrod:

I served with Chief Elrod on the USS Jack. He was always so good to me during that time. I was able to reconnect with him a few years ago at a reunion with others who served on the Jack. I was so very sorry to hear the news and my thoughts are with his family at this time.

Dorothy,our deepest sympathy goes out to you. He was a gentleman and I enjoyed talking to him.

To the Elrod Famliy I am going to miss Bill he was always there in Lodge when he was needed and I loved his stories he used to tell.He is going to be sadley missed by the Moosup Lodge #113 AF & Am.

Dottie and family
We send you our deepest sympathy and will keep you in our prayers and thoughts. We shall never forget Bill's kindness to our faimily and the beautiful Masonic Service he did for Hank Baxter one year ago and the Sub Vets also. You were both so kind to Hanks children and his Mom & us.
Babs & Hank Croteau (Hank Baxter's sister) and Bea Baxter ( Hanks Mom)

Dorothy, on behalf of all Bill's Scorpion Shipmates and all subvets who knew him, let me say how sad we are to lose such a good friend. Bill was one of the best liked and looked up to sailors on the Scorpion.
In the last few years, the weekly notes Bill and I shared back and forth meant a lot and I greatly appreciated his always being there for me with the various projects we worked on together. I know how happy he was with you and hope that you will be able to remember the many great times you had together.
Our thoughts and prayers go with you in this time. He is in our minds and his picture and info our on our pages forever.
Bill Lee LIB BC and USS Scorpion SSN-589 crewmember 64-67

Gordon and Family,
I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. Please accept my deepest sympathies.

My heart goes out to you at this time and in the days ahead.