In a message dated 97-07-21 03:41:54 EDT, you write: << am seeking information as to who is/was William H Bates after whom the submarine USS Wm H Bates, SSN-680 was named. >> Per "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships," the William H. Bates was named after William Henry Bates, who was born 26 April 1917 at Salem, Mass. He was son of Congressman George J. Bates of the 6th Congressional District of Mass. who was killed at a plane crash at the Washington D. C. National Airport on 1 November 1949.. The son (Wlilliam Henry Bates) resigned his reserve commission (Lt. Commander) to fill the rest of his fathers's term in the House of Representatives. The William H. Bates (SSN-680) was built by company owned by another Bates. I refer to Charles Bates Thornton, founder of Litton Inc. and Ingalls Shipbuilding Div. at Pascagoul, Miss., whose Bates ancestors originated in Stafford County, Virginia. My first cousin. Wayne Witt Bates, Editor The Bates Booster Newsletter The Bates Family of Old Virginia (FFV)