USS Bennion DD-662

The U.S. Navy used at least seven different types of destroyers during World War II. Fletcher-class destroyers, such as the USS Bennion, were state-of-the-art vessels. Many continued to operate for more than half a century after the war ended.

The USS Bennion (DD-662) was a Fletcher-class destroyer named in honor of Captain Mervyn Bennion of the USS West Virginia, who was killed in action during the raid on Pearl Harbor. Her keel was laid at the Boston Navy Yard on 19 March 1943, and she launched on Independence Day. Commissioned in December, she was placed under command of Commander J. W. Cooper.

Her first mission was to escort the light carrier USS Bataan from Philadelphia to Pearl Harbor in March 1944. After two months of routine patrol in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands, she was ordered west to serve as direction finder for combat pilots. She also provided radar detection during several operations over the next eighteen months, including Saipan, the Leyte invasion, landings at Mindoro, Iwo Jima, the seizure of Okinawa, and raids on the Japanese mainland in July 1945.

Despite her presence in the thick of combat on several occasions, the Bennion suffered only minor damage on two occasions and did not return to the United States until October 1945, when she reported to the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington for overhauls and repairs prior to decommissioning. She was placed in reserve status in 1946.

She remained in Long Beach, California, as part of the mothball fleet for another quarter century before being sold for scrap in May 1973.

Asbestos Risks

To protect those aboard a ship, along with the vessel itself, fireproof materials are needed when constructing a ship. The inclusion of insulators like asbestos was very common during the period when destroyers such as the USS Bennion were built. Unfortunately, exposure to asbestos can cause serious diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

When asbestos-containing materials become damaged or disturbed, either by contact or normal wear and tear, tiny asbestos fibers become airborne where they can be inhaled. Once they have entered the body, they can become lodged within the lining of the lungs and can remain there for several decades without side effects.

Once an asbestos-related disease develops symptoms, it is often too late for curative treatment. Because of this, many have successfully received compensation to help pay for medical expenses and lost income. If you served aboard the USS Bennion or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare asbestos-related cancer, and wish to learn more about symptoms, treatment and legal options, please click here to receive a complimentary informational packet from Asbestos.com.

Sources:

Destroyers Index