USS Vicksburg CL-86

The USS Vicksburg was a Cleveland-class light cruiser and the third to be named for the city in Mississippi. Construction began on October 26, 1942, though she was originally to be called the Cheyenne. A month later, her name was changed to the Vicksburg. She was launched on December 14, 1943 under the sponsorship of Miss Muriel Hamilton, and she was commissioned on June 12, 1944 under the command of Captain William C. Vose.

History

The Vicksburg had her shakedown in Chesapeake Bay and the British West Indies before returning to Hampton Roads. There she completed radar spotting practice before going into her post-shakedown overhaul in mid to late September.

In January 1945, the Vicksburg joined Task Group 21.12 and headed for Hawaii. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on January 17 and conducted exercises through the end of the month. She then headed to Saipan before entering in her first major engagement of the war - the bombardment of Iwo Jima. She remained in the area into March before heading back to Ulithi for provisions. From there, she assisted with the air strikes in preparation for the invasion of Okinawa.

After the battle, the Vicksburg remained off of Okinawa in support duties, and then headed for the Philippine Islands in late June. She was still in the Philippines when the Japanese surrendered and headed for the Japanese home islands a few days later. On September 5, 1945, she entered Tokyo Bay.

The Vicksburg remained in Tokyo Bay for two weeks before joining the 3rd Fleet to head to Okinawa. There she received more than 2,000 passengers to carry home to the United States. She arrived in Pearl Harbor on October 4 and from there headed to San Francisco. She continued in duties along the West Coast for the rest of the year.

On January 17, 1946, the Vicksburg underwent an overhaul and modernization. She then operated out of San Diego until September. She was officially decommissioned on June 30, 1947 and was removed from the Navy list on October 1, 1962. She was sold for scrap two years later.

Asbestos risks

The Vicksburg avoided any major damage during her brief term of service. However, like other World War II ships, she was not without her hazards. One of the biggest hazards she had was the fact that she was built using asbestos.

Prior to 1980, many of the U.S. Navy ships were built using asbestos, the Vicksburg included. Asbestos was most often used as an insulation material, especially in the boiler and engine rooms, but also throughout the ships around pipes, wiring, and in insulation tiles. Inexpensive, easy to work with, and resistant to heat and fire, asbestos seemed ideal for the purpose.

What workers did not realize was the fact that asbestos is hazardous to work with. When it is disturbed, tiny fragments break away, contaminating the air. When inhaled, these fragments become lodged in the lungs, eventually leading to serious illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis.

There is no known cure for mesothelioma, and the cancer is aggressive. It can take years to develop, but once diagnosed, many patients have less than a year to live. Sadly, mesothelioma can be prevented if adequate precautions are taken to avoid asbestos exposure. But since the workers and sailors were not informed of the risks, they did not know to take precautions against exposure, and many were exposed needlessly.

If you served aboard the Vicksburg and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition, you may have legal options. Numerous asbestos cases have already been filed, many of them by veterans. Millions of dollars in compensation have been paid out already, and your share of this money can help provide for your family and cover the rising cost of medical bills. To find out more, fill out the form on this page to receive a comprehensive packet in the mail.

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