USS Guadalupe (AO-32)

The USS Guadalupe (AO-32) was a Cimarron-class oil tanker in service with the Navy from World War II until 1974. The Guadalupe and her sister ships performed a vital logistical role for the Navy, allowing for the at-sea refueling of almost all Navy vessel types.

The vessel was built in 1940 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia and commissioned on June 19, 1941. After a brief shakedown cruise, the vessel was assigned to domestic duty along the east coast for a period of several months. In late summer of 1941, the Guadalupe was sent to the western Pacific where she delivered fuel and several patrol crafts. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the ship was sent to Baltimore, Maryland where she was prepared for combat duty.

While in Baltimore, the Guadalupe was equipped with four 5-inch guns, as well as eight antiaircraft guns that dotted her decks. The process took just a few weeks, but the amount of metalwork required for the modifications undoubtedly resulted in the release of asbestos from within the Guadalupe’s hull. The shipyard workers as well as the sailors who served on the vessel may have been exposed to varying levels of airborne asbestos. The Guadalupe left Baltimore for the Pacific in early 1942.

World War II Service

Upon her arrival in the Pacific, the Guadalupe was assigned to the Navy’s Seventh Fleet, which she operated with for most of the conflict. The Guadalupe provided critical at-sea refueling for dozens of Navy combat ships, including most of the Navy’s large carrier fleet. The ship’s service was largely trouble-free until January 1944, when the Guadalupe was involved in a collision with the Nantahala, another Navy oil tanker. The collision ruptured the vessel’s bow, damaging asbestos-containing materials and potentially exposing crew members to airborne asbestos.

In May 1945, the USS Guadalupe was ordered back to the U.S. for an overhaul, which effectively ended her wartime service. In recognition of her service during World War II, the U.S. Navy awarded the ship and her crew with fourteen battle stars. Following the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific, the Guadalupe was assigned to the western Pacific where she remained for the majority of the inter-war years.

Service during Korea and Vietnam Wars

When the Korean War began in June 1950, the Guadalupe was in California for an overhaul. Crews quickly rushed through the remainder of the repairs, but this unfortunately may have resulted in shipyard workers being exposed to asbestos. With the overhaul complete, the Guadalupe deployed for Korea where she earned a total of six battle stars.

The Guadalupe followed her Korean War service by deploying with the Navy’s Pacific Fleet in Vietnam 12 years later. During her third and final war, the USS Guadalupe earned 10 campaign stars, making her one of the most decorated tankers of the Vietnam War. In 1974, after a 33-year career, the USS Guadalupe was decommissioned and eventually 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 Guadalupe 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