USS Monterey (CVL-26)

The USS Monterey (CVL-26) was originally intended to be a light cruiser, named the USS Dayton. Three months after construction began at the New York Shipbuilding Company of Camden, New Jersey in late December 1941, the vessel was reclassified and completed as an Independence-class aircraft carrier and finally launched in February 1943. She was commissioned under the command of Capt. Lestor T. Hundt six months later.

Duties in the Pacific

After a commissioning shakedown cruise, the USS Monterey sailed out of Philadelphia for the western Pacific, reaching the Gilbert Islands on 19 November 1943. Following her participation in operations on Makin Island, Kavieng, Kwajalein and Eniwetok, she joined the Fast Carrier Task Force for raids on the Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, northern New Guinea and the Bonin Islands. She also took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea at the end of April 1944.

After an overhaul at the Pearl Harbor shipyard, the USS Monterey sailed for Wake Island, arriving on 3 September 1944 before rejoining the Fast Carrier Task Force for operations in the Philippines for the remainder of the year. Although she escaped battle damage, she incurred damage during Typhoon Cobra ("Halsey's Typhoon") in December. Among the crewmen who were nearly lost was a young seaman named Gerald R. Ford, who later became President of the United States.

The USS Monterey suffered from fire damage as the result of the storm when a fully fueled aircraft tore loose from its moorings. She was forced to return to the Puget Sound Naval Base in Bremerton, Washington, for repairs in January 1945. Repairs were completed just in time for the vessel to participate in the final operations against the Japanese home islands.

Post-war Service and Korea

Following the end of hostilities, the USS Monterey was assigned to Operation "Magic Carpet," making several voyages between Naples, Italy and Norfolk, Virginia, before being decommissioned in February 1947 and assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

With the outbreak of the Korean War, the USS Monterey was recommissioned in September 1950. She sailed out of Norfolk at the beginning of January 1951 and was assigned to the Naval Air Base at Pensacola, Florida for the training of naval aviation cadets, student pilots and helicopter trainees.

In October 1954, the USS Monterey and her crew participated in a flood rescue mission in Honduras.

The USS Monterey left Pensacola in June 1955 and rejoined the reserve fleet. She was decommissioned on 16 January 1956 and remained berthed in Philadelphia until she was sold for scrapping less than 15 years later.

Asbestos Risks

Those who served the U.S. in the military have always understood that their duties come with inherent risks, whether or not they see time in battle. What many did not understand throughout most of the 20th century, however, was a risk unrelated to fire or attacks by the enemy was also present aboard ships and vessels. Exposure to asbestos was a serious concern aboard these ships and many who served aboard were unaware of the dangers associated with the toxic mineral.

To protect sailors on a ship and the vessel itself from fire and excessive heat, fireproof materials are important when building a ship. Given the mineral's excellent imperviousness to flames, it seemed entirely suitable for use in the construction of ships, and at the time ships like the USS Monterey were built, asbestos insulation materials were common. Asbestos has been known for centuries for its insulation properties though it has also been proven to be the leading factor in the development of such debilitating illnesses such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. The damage caused by asbestos typically occurs when tiny particles are inhaled or ingested. The fibers invade the respiratory system and occasionally the stomach, causing scar tissue in the case of pleural plaques and damage to cells in the case of lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure was certainly a real hazard when a naval vessel was attacked or was involved in an accident because it frequently exposed asbestos fibers to the elements. Furthermore, because almost every area of naval vessels like the USS Monterey had asbestos-containing materials, all aboard the vessels typically were faced with some amount of exposure to asbestos during their everyday duties. Those working in confined quarters where asbestos was present, such as a ship's mechanical sections or engines, were especially in danger. Even port-based workers like plumbers were subject to asbestos-related diseases if they repaired ships like the USS Monterey without proper safety equipment and procedures.

Diseases associated with asbestos exposure can be hard to distinguish from other illnesses, because the symptoms often resemble less serious conditions. Knowing about a patient's history of asbestos exposure can help a doctor accurately diagnose conditions like mesothelioma. All those who worked on the construction or served aboard the USS Monterey may wish to learn more about mesothelioma and associated symptoms to be aware of any symptoms that may develop. Please click here to receive a complimentary packet with additional information about mesothelioma.

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