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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:

  1. USS Guadalupe Home Page: http://guadalupeao32.tripod.com/index1.htm
  2. NavSource: http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/19/19032.htm
  3. Haze Gray: http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/ao32.htm
  4. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g9/guadalupe.htm

Auxiliary Vessels Index

USNS Asterion T-AF-63
USNS Cheyenne T-AG-174
USNS Cumberland T-AO-153
USNS David C Shanks T-AP-180
USNS Fred C Aunsworth T-AP-181
USNS Geiger T-AP-197
USNS Harris County T-LST-822
USNS Lt. George W. G.
Boyce T-AK-251

USNS Lt. Robert Craig T-AK-252
USNS Marine Adder AP-193
USNS Mission San Antonio T-AO-119
USNS Provo T-AG-173
USNS Rincon T-AOG-77
USNS Sgt. Andrew Miller T-AK-242
USNS Sgt. Curtis F. Shoup T-AG-175
USNS Sgt. Jack J. Pendleton T-AKV-5
USNS Sgt. Morris E. Crain T-AK-244
USNS Shearwater T-AG-177
USS Admiral Hugh Rodman AP-126
USS Admiral W.S. Sims AP-127
USS Alamo LSD-33
USS Alshain AKA-55
USS Alstede AF-48
USS Andromeda AKA-15
USS Ashtabula AO-51
USS Bellatrix AKA-3
USS Bryce Canyon AD 36
USS Bryce Canyon AD 36
USS Cacapon AO-52
USS Caroline County LST-525
USS Carter Hall LSD-3
USS Cassia County LST-527
USS Catalpa AN-10
USS Cayuga County LST-529
USS Charleston LKA-113
USS Chimon AG-150
USS Chittenden County LST-561
USS Cimarron AO-22
USS Clarke County LST-601
USS Cleveland LPD-7
USS Collenton APB-36
USS Colonial LSD-18
USS Consolation AH-15
USS Crook County LST-611
USS DeKalb County LST-715
USS Denebola AF-56
USS Diphda AKA-59
USS Dixie AD-14
USS Dukes County LST-735
USS Dunn County LST-742
USS Duval County LST-758
USS El Paso LKA-117
USS Electron AG-146
USS Epping Forest LSD-4
USS Etlah AN-79
USS Firedrake AE-14
USS Floyd County LST-762
USS Fort Fisher LSD-40
USS Frederick LST-1184
USS Gardiners Bay AVP-39
USS General A.W. Brewster AP-155
USS General C.G. Morton AP-138
USS General D.E.Aultman AP-156
USS General George M. Randall AP-115
USS General H.F. Hodges AP-144
USS General J.C. Breckenridge AP-176
USS General LeRoy Eltinge AP-154
USS General M.C. Meigs AP-116
USS General M.M. Patrick AP-50
USS General R.L. Howze AP-134
USS General S.D. Sturgis AP-137
USS General W.A. Mann AP-112
USS General W.F. Hase AP-146
USS General W.M. Black AP-135
USS General William Mitchell AP-114
USS Genesee AOG-8
USS Grainger AK-184
USS Greer County LST-799
USS Guadalupe AO-32
USS Guam LPH-9
USS Haleakala AE-25
USS Hamilton County LST-802
USS Hampshire County LST-819
USS Haven AH-12
USS Hennepin AK-187
USS Herkimer AK-188
USS Hickman County LST-825
USS Holmes County LST-836
USS Hunterdon County LST-838
USS Inchon LPH-12
USS Iron County LST-840
USS James O'Hara APA-90
USS Jefferson County LST-845
USS Jerome County LST-848
USS Kansas City AOR-3
USS Kaskaskia AO-27
USS Kemper County LST-854
USS Keosanqua ATA-198
USS King County LST-857
USS Kishwaukee AOG-9
USS La Moure County LST-883
USS Laertes AR-20
USS Lawrence County LST-887
USS Lindenwald LSD-6
USS Luzerne County LST-902
USS Magoffin APA-199
USS Mahnomen County LST-912
USS Manatee AO-58
USS Markab AD-21
USS Mathews AKA-96
USS Mauna Kea AE-22
USS Mazama AE-9
USS Merapi AF-98
USS Merrick AKA-97
USS Mispillion AO-105
USS Monmouth County LST-1032
USS Monticello LSD-35
USS Mount Baker AE-4
USS Mount McKinley ACG-7
USS Mulberry AN-27
USS Muliphen AKA-61
USS Navasota AO-106
USS New Orleans LPH-11
USS Niagra Falls AFS-3
USS Ogden LPD-5
USS Okinawa LPH-3
USS Onslow APV-48
USS Orange County LST-1068
USS Outagamie County LST-1073
USS Paricutin AE-18
USS Park County LST-1077
USS Pasig AW-3
USS Patapsco AOG-1
USS Pender County LST-1080
USS Pictor AF-54
USS Platte AO-24
USS Plumas County LST-1083
USS Polaris AF-11
USS Portland LSD-37
USS Princeton CV-37
USS Procyon AF-61
USS Rainer AE-5
USS Regulus AF-57
USS Romulus-ARL-22
USS Sanborn APA-193
USS Sanctuary AH-17
USS Sarnac AO-74
USS Satyr ARL-23
USS Sedgwick County LST-1123
USS Sharps AG-139
USS Skagit AKA-105
USS Sphinx ARL 24
USS St. Clair County LST 1096
USS St. Joseph's River LSM 527
USS Steuben County LST 1138
USS Suisun AVP 53
USS Summit County LST 1146
USS Susquehanna AOG-5
USS Tallulah AO 50
USS Tensaw YT 418
USS Terrell County LST 1157
USS Thomaston LSD 28
USS Tioga County LST 1158
USS Tom Green County LST 1159
USS Tombigbee AOG 11
USS Tripoli LPH 10
USS Union AKA 106
USS Vancouver LPD 2
USS Vesuvius AE 15
USS Virgo AKA 20
USS Waccamaw AO 109
USS Wallacut YTB 420
USS Warrick AKA-89
USS Washoe County LST 1165
USS Westchester County LST 1165
USS Whetstone LSD 27
USS Whidbey AG 141
USS Whiteside AKA 90
USS Windham County LST 1170
USS Wrangell AE 12
USS Yancey AKA 93
USS Yazoo AN 92
USS Zelima AF 49
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