USS Dixie (AD-14)

The USS Dixie (AD-14) was the lead ship in the Navy’s Dixie-class of destroyer tenders. The Dixie and her sister ships were built to provide at-sea repair and support for the Navy’s destroyer fleet. The USS Dixie was built in 1939 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey and commissioned into Navy service on April 25, 1940. Following her commissioning ceremony, the Dixie sailed into the Atlantic for a brief shakedown cruise, after which she was deployed with the Navy’s Pacific Fleet.

The Dixie spent her few pre-war months operating in San Diego, though during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor she was in San Francisco Bay undergoing an overhaul. The Dixie’s overhaul was a routine repair operation, but in the process of maintaining her systems the work crews may have disturbed asbestos-containing materials, exposing shipyard workers in the area to the toxic substance.

World War II Service

In the early stages of World War II, the USS Dixie was based largely out of the western Pacific where she supported operations in the Solomons and Leyte. As a support ship, the Dixie never saw any actual combat during the war, but her crew was recognized with the Navy Unit Commendation and one Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. In the immediate post-war years, the USS Dixie took part in the Navy’s numerous atomic weapons tests in the Pacific. After her duty in Operation Crossroads was over, the Dixie deployed to China and was eventually rebased to Hong Kong.

Korean War Service and Decommissioning

Prior to the outbreak of the Korean War, the USS Dixie entered port in San Diego for a much-needed overhaul. The modernization work on the Dixie lasted several weeks, during which shipyard workers may have been exposed to asbestos. The Navy sailors who were aboard the Dixie immediately after this overhaul may have experienced varying degrees of asbestos inhalation.

When the Korean War began in 1950, the USS Dixie was quickly ordered to the Korean Peninsula. She arrived in early 1951 and participated in five campaigns during the war, including the First UN Counter Offensive in February 1951. The Dixie served with distinction during the Korean War, earning a total of five battle stars and the United Nations Service Medal.

Following the cessation of hostilities in Korea, the USS Dixie remained in active duty with the Navy for nearly 20 years. Although she was active during the Vietnam War, the Dixie was relegated to an auxiliary role during that conflict and saw no combat action. On June 15, 1982, after a 42-year career with the Navy, the USS Dixie was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register.

Asbestos Risks

For as long as there have been wars, servicemen and servicewomen in the military have accepted that their lives will contain serious risks. But in addition the obvious risks one associates with military service, a hidden danger included exposure to asbestos.

The ability to stop the spreading of flames on a ship was crucial in limiting the size of accidents. During the period that the USS Dixie and other ships like her were built, the mineral known as asbestos was frequently used in shipyards because of its insulating and fireproofing capabilities. Unfortunately, the use of asbestos has exposed many past crew members and shipyard workers to toxic asbestos fibers. Exposure to asbestos has been noted to cause the development of several conditions, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Boiler rooms and engine rooms were common locations for exposure to asbestos. The high temperatures in these areas caused the need for fireproofing and asbestos was used on many products. Other areas throughout ships that contained asbestos were pipes, walls and ceilings that need to be insulated. Any disturbance to these materials may have caused the dispersion of asbestos fibers where they could be inhaled.

If you or a loved one have been exposed to asbestos and have since contracted an asbestos-related disease, please click here to receive a free informational packet about treatment options and compensation. Many who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions have received financial assistance to help cover medical costs and lost income.

Sources:

Auxiliary Vessels Index