USS General W. A. Mann (AP-112)

The USS General W. A. Mann (AP-112) was the third of the Navy’s General John Pope-class of troop transports. The vessel and her sister ships served from World War II until the Vietnam War. The USS General W. A. Mann was built in 1943 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey and commissioned on October 13, 1943. After her commissioning ceremony, the General W. A. Mann sailed into the Atlantic for a short shakedown cruise, after which she was deployed with the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet.

In her first year of service, the General W. A. Mann made several deployments to North Africa, bringing desperately-needed reinforcements to that theater. Towards the end of 1944, the ship was reassigned to the Pacific Fleet and she arrived on the west coast in early January 1945. During the first half of 1945, the General W. A. Mann made numerous deployments throughout the Pacific, shuttling troops and personnel from base to base. When the war in Europe ended, the transport was assigned to aid in the redeployment of troops from Europe to the Pacific, but before she could return to the Pacific the Japanese surrendered, bringing an end to World War II.

Service after World War II

Following the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific, the General W. A. Mann began the long task of bringing combat veterans home from the Pacific. Although many of her sister ships were transferred to Army service at some point in the post-war years, the General W. A. Mann remained in active duty with the Navy for the duration of the 1940s. Shortly before the outbreak of the Korean War, the General W. A. Mann entered port for an overhaul and conversion to a Military Sea Transportation Service ship. During the overhaul, the modifications performed may have disturbed asbestos-containing materials and caused asbestos fibers to become airborne.

Korean War Service

When the Korean War broke out in 1950, the Navy assigned the General W. A. Mann to wartime duty in support of American operations in the region. The transport spent several years off the Korean coast, participating in two campaigns and earning a pair of Korean battle stars for her efforts. The General W. A. Mann and her crew were also recognized with the United Nations Service Medal for their role in the Korean War.

The USS General W. A. Mann served out the rest of the 1950s in the Pacific where she made frequent voyages to American bases. In the 1960s, the vessel was deployed with Navy forces in Vietnam where she transported thousands of troops to the embattled country. The General W. A. Mann was recognized by the Navy with one Vietnam Service Medal as a result of her actions during the conflict. Shortly after returning from Vietnam, the ship was decommissioned and placed into the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. On December 1, 1966, the transport was struck from the Naval Register.

Asbestos Risks

Navy veterans are at a particularly high risk for developing an asbestos-related disease because the majority of ships that were constructed for World War II and after contained asbestos-laden materials. Shipyard workers faced their greatest risk of asbestos exposure while performing routine overhauls and upgrades for military ships. During these overhauls, materials made with asbestos were often torn apart and removed from the vessel, enabling asbestos fibers to become airborne.

The inhalation of asbestos fibers is one of the primary causes of mesothelioma, a rare cancer that affects about 3,000 Americans each year. Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, they typically become lodged in the lining of the lungs and remain there for several decades. Later in life, these fibers can cause irritations that have the potential to develop into cancerous mesothelioma tumors. Unfortunately, the severe latency period associated with this cancer often causes patients to become diagnosed during the advanced stages of development and at a time when treatment options are limited.

If you or a loved one have contracted or passed away from mesothelioma cancer after being exposed to asbestos, you may have legal options for compensation to help pay for treatments and other expenses. For more information about this and treatment options available for mesothelioma patients, please click here to receive a complimentary informational packet in the mail.

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Auxiliary Vessels Index