USS Grainger (AK-184)

The USS Grainger (AK-184) was one of dozens of Alamosa-class cargo ships built for the Navy during World War II. The Grainger served with the Navy from 1945 until 1956. The ship was built in 1944 by the Walter Butler Shipbuilding Company, Incorporated of Superior, Wisconsin and commissioned on January 26, 1945.

After a brief shakedown and training cruise in the Gulf of Mexico, the Grainger was sent to the Naval Training Center where she served as a training ship for the duration of World War II. In October 1945, the Grainger was reassigned to the Pacific where she made one trans-Pacific cargo run before being designated for decommissioning. On July 25, 1946, the young cargo vessel was decommissioned and placed into the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Service after World War II

Shortly after entering the Pacific Reserve Fleet, the Grainger was recalled to active duty and entered port for a re-activation overhaul. The one-month overhaul replaced the equipment that was removed prior to her decommissioning. Unfortunately, this overhaul may have disturbed asbestos-containing materials already onboard the Grainger. Those working on the vessel during this overhaul may have been exposed to asbestos and are at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease.

When the overhaul was completed in June 1947, the Grainger returned to service with the Pacific Fleet. The vessel made several trans-Pacific deployments in the ensuing years, providing replenishment stores to American bases from Alaska to the Marianas.

Korean War Service

When the Korean War began in 1950, the Grainger was loaded with ammunition and ordered to the waters off the Korean Peninsula. Although designed as a standard cargo vessel, the Grainger was pressed into service as an at-sea ammunition resupply ship, bringing munitions to Navy vessels throughout the region. In recognition of her service during the Korean War, the Navy awarded the Grainger and her crew two battle stars and the United Nations Service Medal. The vessel remained in the Pacific after the signing of the Korean Truce, providing logistical support for the Pacific Fleet until 1955.

By the end of 1955, the Navy’s sealift demands had eased and the Grainger was ordered to San Diego, California for a pre-inactivation overhaul. The two-month overhaul stripped the Grainger of her nonessential equipment and prepared the ship for storage in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. In the process of removing the Grainger’s equipment, shipyard crews likely caused asbestos to become airborne, potentially exposing all nearby workers. On February 7, 1956, the Grainger was decommissioned and ultimately struck from the Naval Register.

Asbestos Risks

People who serve their nation in the military have always accepted that their enlistments come with expected dangers, regardless of whether or not they undergo battle. However, what many of our military personnel during the 1900s did not realize was that asbestos exposure could affect them as many as 50 years later.

Asbestos was commonly used throughout most of the 20th century for its ability to insulate and fireproof materials. Some of the more common locations where asbestos exposure occurred were boiler and engine rooms. In addition to this, walls, pipes and ceilings were often coated in asbestos for insulation purposes. Any disturbance to these materials could have caused microscopic asbestos fibers to become airborne where they could be inhaled.

The inhalation of asbestos fibers can result in several asbestos-related conditions, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an illness related to asbestos, you may have legal options for compensation. Many have already received financial assistance to help cover medical costs and lost income. For more information about this and treatment options, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a complimentary informational packet.

Sources:

Auxiliary Vessels Index