USS Brownson (DD-868)

The USS Brownson (DD-868) was a Gearing-class destroyer, launched 7 July 1945 from the Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Staten Island shipyard, where union steelworkers constructed her in under six months. She was commissioned under the command of Commander William R. Cox on 17 November of that year.

The South Pole

The Brownson underwent her shakedown trials out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from January to March 1946. For the next four months, she was a training ship for destroyer engineer officers. This was followed by a stand-down period between June and October. On 2 December, she departed for Operation Highjump, a mission organized by Admiral Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957), famous for his earlier polar explorations.

The mission's primary objective was to carry out tests of materials and train seamen under frigid conditions. The mission also sought to attempt to establish U.S. sovereignty over the continent and attempt to establish airbases. The mission was abruptly canceled, and Brownson and the vessels that had accompanied her returned to the United States in April 1947.

The Brownson entered the Boston Naval Shipyard and dry dock on 11 September 1947 for regular shipyard availability and remained there until January 1948.

Off to the Mediterranean

Brownson departed for Atlantic maneuvers with the 2nd Fleet in February 1948. This was followed by a two-month tour of duty in the Mediterranean with the 6th Fleet. She returned to her new home port of Newport, Rhode Island in June of that year.

Most of the following year was spent conducting reserve cruises. In May 1949, Brownson again entered the Boston Naval Shipyard for an extensive modernization, which was completed in March 1950. Afterward, the USS Brownson completed crew refresher training and a midshipman's cruise in the Caribbean during the summer of 1950.

On the night of 8 November 1950, the Brownson collided with USS Charles H. Roan off the Bermudan coast. Temporary dry-dock repairs in Bermuda were followed by a yard period in Philadelphia. After leaving the yard in February 1951, Brownson again joined the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean.

NATO Operations and the Far East

During the early 1950s, Brownson completed regular deployments to the Mediterranean and participated in two NATO missions, Operation Mainbrace and Operation Springboard.

On 2 August 1954, Brownson departed for an extended deployment in the Far East with the 7th Fleet. Following her tour of duty, she continued westward, completing the first of three circumnavigations of the globe she would make during her lengthy career. Brownson returned to port on 14 March 1955.

Brownson's second round-the-world cruise occurred in 1956, when she passed through the Suez Canal only hours before the crisis that closed the canal began. Trapped, Brownson spent two months in the Red Sea before continuing around the world.

In October 1958, Brownson joined Destroyer Development Group 2, a naval unit dedicated to the testing and development of new equipment.

The 1960s

After an overhaul at the Boston Naval Yard in 1961, Brownson and her crew underwent extensive refresher training out of Guantanamo Bay prior to participating in a major amphibious landing exercise.

In October 1962, the Brownson was deployed to Cuba during the Missile Crisis. She returned to Newport in December, resuming her routine operations for the next six months.

In June 1963, Brownson entered the Boston Naval Shipyard for her Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) conversion. During these overhauls, selected naval vessels received major equipment, engineering and weapons upgrades. Exiting the yard in April 1964, Brownson rejoined Destroyer Development Group 2 for six weeks of refresher training out of Guantanamo Bay. She then returned to Newport to prepare for a Mediterranean deployment with the 6th Fleet, which lasted from August until December.

The summer of 1965 was spent making a goodwill tour to Northern Europe, after which Brownson returned to port for routine operations. In July 1966, Brownson was assigned to the Destroyer School for training junior officers.

Vietnam

In September 1966, Brownson got underway for her first deployment to the Far East with Destroyer Squadron 20. In October, she took up her position off the Vietnamese coast, providing naval gunfire support for ground operations and plane guard escort duty for carrier operation in the Gulf of Tonkin. When she was relieved of this duty, she continued westward for a third trip around the world, arriving in April 1967.

After a deployment to the Mediterranean, Brownson once again entered the Boston Naval Shipyard for maintenance and repairs in late 1967.

Final Years

The next several years were spent making deployments to the Caribbean (June to December 1968), the Mediterranean (June to December 1972 and February to June 1974) and western Europe (January 1974). In early 1973, her home port was moved from Newport to Mayport, Florida.

Brownson's final tour of duty commenced on 15 April 1975, and took her to Africa and duty with the Middle East Force.

The USS Brownson was decommissioned and struck from the Navy Register in 1976 and sold for scrap on 10 June 1977.

Asbestos Risks

Whether acting in times of peace or battle, soldiers and sailors have always accepted that working in the military brings with it expected risks. However, those who served during World War I and World War II were often unaware of certain dangers aboard ships and vessels. Exposure to asbestos can result in the development of serious asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos is a toxic mineral that was heavily used aboard ships and vessels that operated during both World Wars because of its natural resistance to heat and fire.

Asbestos exposure is especially dangerous when a ship became damaged because such circumstances often caused asbestos fibers to break off into the air where they could be inhaled or ingested into the body of those aboard. Asbestos was prevalent around pipes and boiler rooms, and those who worked in such places were especially at risk of exposure. Even shipyard workers like plumbers were subject to developing asbestos-related diseases when they worked on the construction or repairs of U.S. Navy ships like the USS Brownson without using safety equipment to protect themselves from exposure.

Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibers enter the body and become lodged in organs and cavities, causing inflammation or infection. If you served aboard the USS Brownson or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and wish to learn more about your treatment and legal options, please click here and Asbestos.com will send you a complimentary comprehensive packet about the cancer.

Sources:

Destroyers Index