USS San Juan CL-54

The USS San Juan was an Atlanta-class cruiser. Construction started on May 15, 1940, and she was launched on September 6, 1941 under the sponsorship of Mrs. Margarita Coll de Santori. She was then commissioned on February 28, 1942 under the command of Captain James E. Maher.

History

The San Juan had her shakedown in the Atlantic before heading for the Pacific on June 5, 1942. She left San Diego in late June for the Solomon Islands. She had a rehearsal in the Fiji Islands before assisting with the landings on Tulagi in early August. From there, she went on patrols and participated in the Battle of Savo Island. She then operated near the New Hebrides and the Solomons, but having to refuel, she missed the major battle there. She ended up escorting the Enterprise back to Pearl Harbor for repairs in September 1942.

In October, the San Juan headed back to the South Pacific, raiding the Gilberts on October 16. She then headed to Espiritu Santo to drop off Japanese prisoners before joining in on the Battle of Santa Cruz Island. A bomb passed through her stern during the battle, and she was sent to Australia for repairs.

In late November, the San Juan headed to the Fiji Islands, and from December 1942 until June 1943, she was based at Noumea. In July, she headed back to Espiritu Santo. The rest of the year was spent in various attacks, and on December 6, she headed back to Mare Island for an overhaul.

In January 1944, the San Juan headed back to Pearl Harbor, and from there, headed back to Eniwetok. She then escorted other carriers on various strikes throughout March and April. In June, the San Juan struck Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima before becoming involved in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

In July, the San Juan helped with the capture of Guam and more strikes on Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima. She was then ordered to San Francisco for an overhaul in early August. She had refresher training in San Diego and Pearl Harbor before returning to Ulithi in late November. In early December, she assisted with more attacks and rode out the typhoon before returning to Ulithi on Christmas Eve. From there, she continued strikes on Luzon, Formosa and Okinawa into the New Year.

In March, the San Juan started preparations for the invasion of Okinawa, and late in the month and into April, operated near Nansei Shoto. She continued operations in the area until August, when she joined the forces entering Sagami Wan. On August 29, she entered Tokyo Bay and assisted with transferring former prisoners of war. She headed back to the United States in mid-November before participating in Magic Carpet duties. The San Juan then headed to Bremerton for inactivation on January 24, 1946. She was decommissioned on November 9, and then on February 28, 1949 was reclassified as a CLAA-54. She was officially removed from the Navy list on March 1, 1959 and was sold for scrapping in 1961.

Asbestos Risks

Like other ships in the war, the San Juan had numerous risks from battle. However, this was not her only risk. Another major risk that veterans endured was the fact that she was built using asbestos.

Asbestos was commonly used in ships of the San Juan's time as an insulation material. Resistant to heat and fire, asbestos was often used in boiler and engine rooms, but could also be found throughout the ship in wiring, around pipes, and in insulation tiles.

The danger stems from the fact that asbestos contaminates the air. When disturbed, tiny particles of the mineral break off into the air. When inhaled or swallowed, these particles become lodged in the body. This leads to inflammation, and over time, it can develop into asbestosis, mesothelioma and other serious diseases.

The sailors aboard the San Juan and the workers in the shipyards were not informed of these risks. Therefore, few if any wore any sort of protective gear while working with asbestos. Many were not even aware that they were at risk until they started developing health complications years later.

Because of this, many veterans have filed asbestos lawsuits against the companies responsible for their exposure. Thousands of cases have been filed, and millions of dollars in settlements and awards have been issued to victims.

If you served aboard the San Juan or assisted with repairs or construction on her at the shipyards and have since been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition, you may be eligible to file a case for compensation. For more information, please fill out the form on this page to receive a comprehensive packet in the mail.

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