USS Goodrich (DD-831)

The Gearing-class USS Goodrich (DD-831) was launched 25 February 1945 from the shipyards of the Bath Iron Works Company of Bath, Maine, and commissioned on 24 April 1945, Cmdr. Dale R. Frankes in command.

1945 to 1960

After her shakedown training cruise in the Caribbean, Goodrich sailed on 12 November 1945 to support the occupation of Japan. She conducted patrols between principal Japanese ports until October 1946, when she shifted to the waters off the northern coast of China and Korea. Goodrich returned to San Francisco on 21 December 1946 before her transfer to the Atlantic Fleet on 7 January 1947. Her new home port became Newport, Rhode Island.

Goodrich underwent an overhaul at the New York Naval Shipyard before her first Mediterranean deployment from 2 February to 22 May 1948. This was her first of many annual tours with the 6th Fleet over the next several years as Cold War tensions mounted between the West and the Soviet bloc.

In June 1959, Goodrich moved to Mayport, Florida. Her annual deployments to the Mediterranean now included intensive training in all forms of naval welfare with NATO unit readiness exercises with the 6th Fleet. This schedule was interrupted in January 1960, when she entered the Norfolk Navy Yard for an eight-month modernization overhaul.

On 12 February 1962, Goodrich was on Project Mercury recovery station as Lt. Col. John H. Glenn made his successful orbital space flight.

The October Crisis

Goodrich went on alert with the 6th Fleet during the period of 24 October to 20 November 1962 when the Navy responded to President Kennedy's call for a quarantine of Cuba during the missile crisis.

On 22 July 1966, Goodrich got underway for her 13th Mediterranean deployment. She cruised throughout the region for five months, patrolling with the 6th Fleet and taking part in combined naval warfare exercises with units of those of other NATO countries. She returned to Mayport 20 December 1966 for upkeep and type training.

Fate

The USS Goodrich was mothballed on 22 September 1969 and decommissioned the following December. In 1977, she was sold to the New York Scrap and Alloy Company, where she was eventually dismantled.

Asbestos Risks

Men and women who protected our country in the military have long understood that their enlistments are accompanied by inherent risks, whether or not they see battle action. However, what many U.S. military personnel in the majority of the 1900s, especially those in the navy, did not know was that asbestos inhalation could eventually turn out to be nearly as deadly as enemy attacks.

Being able to halt the spread of fire on a navy vessel is vital; numerous shipboard incidents have demonstrated the hazards of conflagrations at sea. During the timeframe when USS Goodrich and similar ships were built, the substance known as asbestos was commonly utilized in shipyards for its property of being able to insulate against flames. Unfortunately, what wasn't always known or was sometimes glossed over was that ingestion of asbestos is the primary cause of debilitating conditions such as asbestosis and peritoneal mesothelioma. The harm brought about by asbestos occurs when tiny fibers are inhaled so that they infiltrate the respiratory system and sometimes the stomach, leading to scarring in the case of pleural plaques and damage at the DNA level in the case of mesothelioma.

The consequences of contact with asbestos weren't likely a high priority to many sailors when they were concentrating on defending against enemy weapon fire or dealing with accidents. But if a ship was damaged from battle action, during a typhoon or through misfortune, it frequently exposed asbestos-containing material and allowed it to become airborne, leading to hazards on top of the obvious ones. And even during peaceful times, sailors who worked on destroyers like USS Goodrich still were faced with some level of exposure since virtually all areas of the vessel had parts made with asbestos. In addition, anyone working in confined quarters where asbestos was present, such as boilers or engines, was especially in danger. Even land-based workers such as plumbers were subject to coming down with asbestos-related diseases if they maintained destroyers like Goodrich without proper safety equipment.

Because asbestos-related illnesses like pericardial mesothelioma often do not show up until decades after a person was exposed to asbestos, they can be quite tricky to spot. However, knowing about a patient's history of asbestos contact can aid a doctor in being able to make an accurate diagnosis. All those who serviced or lived aboard USS Goodrich, therefore, should discuss their history with their doctors. To learn more about the diagnostic process, available treatment options and financial assistance to help pay for medical costs, please fill out this form to receive a comprehensive packet in the mail.

Sources:

Destroyers Index