USS McKee DD-575

The USS McKee (DD-575) was a Fletcher-class destroyer laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corporation of Orange, Texas on 2 March 1942 and launched on 2 August of the same year.

Service in World War II

The McKee was commissioned on 31 March 1943 with Cmdr J. J. Greytak in command. She undertook her shakedown cruise out of Guantanamo Bay and then left her home port of Norfolk on 6 July 1943 for duty in the Pacific. She transited the Panama Canal in the company of the Yorktown and made Pearl Harbor on 24 July. There she continued to train for three months before joining Task Force 53 in the South Pacific.

The McKee arrived in the New Hebrides on 4 November, assisted in covering a convoy during heavy air attacks, and then on 12 November reported to Task Force 53. With this force, she sailed for the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.

On 1 January 1944, the McKee sailed into Pearl Harbor in preparation of the Kwajalein invasion, which was scheduled for the end of the month. After visiting Pearl Harbor, the McKee made her way to Kwajalein and began bombardment. This continued until 3 February when the McKee took two escort missions to Guadalcanal.

In May, the McKee began preparations for the invasion of the Marianas. She delivered close support in this action through 4 August before departing with a group of carriers to the New Hebrides. For the remainder of the year, the McKee saw all of the major invasion and combat actions in the Pacific Theater and provided support in many capacities, including escort, screening, shore bombardment and close fire support.

On 10 January 1945, the McKee joined the Fast Carrier Task Force for attacks on the Japanese home islands, scheduled to begin 7 February. These strikes continued through February and on 18 March they were targeted at reducing resistance on Okinawa in preparation for the invasion there. During this action, the McKee rescued downed pilots and defended against heavy aerial attack.

During the action surrounding Okinawa, the McKee encountered four kamikazes. She shot down one, damaged another, and had near misses with the other two as they crashed into the water and into the USS Hunt.

Prior to 9 July 1945, the McKee was repaired and overhauled at Leyte. She sailed with six other destroyers to the actual coastline of Japan and began bombardment of several targets. This was the deepest penetration of Japanese waters up to that point. Air strikes and other offensive action continued through the weeks of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and only ended at 9:00 in the morning on 15 August. The day prior to the official surrender ceremony aboard the Missouri, the McKee sailed for home.

The Retirement of the McKee

After the Japanese surrender, the McKee sailed for home, arriving at Charleston on 16 October 1945. She was decommissioned on 25 February 1946 and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet where she would stay for more than 25 years. The McKee was stricken from the naval register on 1 October 1970 and was sold for scrap on 2 January 1974.

Asbestos Risks

Asbestos was commonly installed for pipe insulation and for fireproofing in every Navy destroyer. While nearly all areas of a ship such as the USS McKee offered a real danger of asbestos contamination, the ship's engine room and engineering spaces generally were areas where seamen or shipyard workers were most likely to be endangered by asbestos fibers. Increased risk of being subjected to extensive asbestos contact occurred when a warship was hit, in conflict or through misfortune, as that often uncovered asbestos-laden components to the open air.

With asbestos, the worst risk of exposure happens when fibers deteriorate and become exposed. Asbestos exposure is a causative factor associated with multiple forms of mesothelioma and other major health issues. As most asbestos-related problems can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms can be mistaken for those of other illnesses, navy personnel who were exposed to asbestos fibers should notify their physicians about this history.

As with servicemen on her sister destroyers, the crewmen who fought aboard the McKee were at risk for asbestos exposure, especially since the ship saw combat. The troops who worked aboard the McKee were also exposed to asbestos fibers in the daily conduct of their loyal service, as were repair personnel such as welders and electricians who worked on the McKee when the vessel was in port.

Those who have contracted an illness related to asbestos exposure may have legal options for compensation. Many asbestos-contaminated materials were made by manufacturers who knew the dangers of asbestos but elected not to mention it to workers. Because of this, many have received financial assistance to help pay for medical expenses and lost wages. For more information, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a free informational packet.

Sources:

Destroyers Index