USS Beale DD-471

One of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II, the USS Beale (DD-471) was laid down at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Staten Island facility less than two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The vessel launched the following August. She was commissioned at the New York Navy Yard two days before Christmas of 1942 and placed under command of Commander Joseph Cochran.

Wartime Service

Following her initial shakedown cruise and basic training in early 1943, the Beale was serviced in New York, then assigned to the Caribbean for anti-submarine patrols. Her next repair procedure was completed at the New York Navy Yard between 10 and 21 March of that year, after which she was ordered to the Pacific.

Her tour of duty during 1943 took her all over the Pacific Ocean, and included four months in the Aleutians off the coast of Alaska. Ultimately, she joined the task force supporting General MacArthur's New Guinea campaign over the winter of 1943-44 and into the spring. Her crew saw a great deal of action during the campaign, and fortunately the Beale escaped major battle damage.

Her next recorded major repairs were carried out in Sydney, Australia, over the last three weeks of August 1944. Repairs took place after several months of heavy combat duty that put great strain on the ship's machinery and armaments, despite the fact that she had miraculously avoided battle-related damage.

Beale's luck continued during the Leyte Gulf campaign during October 1944. The destroyer continued to escape damage even though her crew was able to inflict major damage against enemy targets. The action took its toll on the ship's machinery, however and the USS Beale returned to San Francisco in December 1944 for several weeks of repairs and overhaul.

Returning to action in the spring of 1945, the crew of the Beale was kept extremely busy fighting off waves of aerial suicide attacks as the Japanese became increasingly desperate. Despite several close calls, the Beale did not suffer one direct hit. Following the Okinawa campaign, Beale steamed to Leyte for minor maintenance, before returning to Japan for mopping-up operations and support of the U.S. occupation.

Beale returned to the port of Charleston, South Carolina on the third anniversary of her commission. The deactivation overhaul prior to mothballing took three months, and she was placed in reserve in April 1946.

Cold War

In November of 1951, the Beale was sent to the Boston Navy Yard and re-commissioned as an escort destroyer, designated as DDE-471. The conversion work lasted 10 weeks, after which she was assigned to the Atlantic fleet. Over a year of varied duties, she returned to New York in October 1953, where she underwent a complete overhaul that lasted until the end of January 1954. She underwent major repairs and maintenance once more at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard during November and December of 1955, then again from mid-July until early November of 1956.

Vietnam

After participating in the quarantine of Cuba during the missile crisis of October 1962 and completing service in the Mediterranean through 1964, Beale underwent another overhaul at Norfolk during the first months of 1965. The following year she was ordered to combat duty off the coast of Vietnam, serving as offshore artillery and carrier screen between July and November of 1966.

An inspection of the vessel at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in August of 1968 revealed that the Beale was obsolete and worn out after a quarter century of extensive use. She was retired and decommissioned in September and sunk in a training exercise the following June.

Asbestos Risks

Throughout history, those who serve their country understand that their daily duties come with expected dangers and risks. While most comprehend the danger of enemy attack, for some time many were unaware of another serious danger aboard ships and vessels in the Navy. Asbestos exposure frequently occurred aboard ships such as the USS Beale since the toxic mineral was widely used for its insulation abilities and natural resistance to heat and fire.

Exposure to asbestos can result in the development of serious asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses can be hard to tell apart from a variety of other diseases, since they can have similar symptoms to more common illnesses such as influenza. Understanding mesothelioma symptoms can aid in early diagnosis which may make treating the asbestos-related cancer more effective. If you worked aboard USS Beale during your career or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and wish to learn more about symptoms, treatment and legal options, please click here and Asbestos.com will send you a comprehensive complimentary packet.

During an enemy attack or severe storm, asbestos fibers may have broken off into the air where those aboard a ship or vessel could inhale or ingest them into the body. Asbestos exposure was certainly an additional hazard when a naval vessel suffered battle damage, however, even during peaceful times, those who worked on naval vessels like USS Beale still faced at least a certain level of exposure since nearly every area of a vessel contained asbestos. Asbestos was often prevalent near ship's conduits and engines, and those who worked in such places were especially at risk. Those who worked on the construction or maintenance of the USS Beale or other destroyers may also have been exposed to asbestos.

Sources:

Destroyers Index