USS Monaghan DD-354

The USS Monaghan (DD-354) was a Farragut-class destroyer and was the last ship of the class to be built. She was laid down on 21 November 1933 at the Boston Navy Yard and launched on 9 January 1935.

History of Service in World War II

The Monaghan acted as a training vessel in the North Atlantic after her commissioning on 19 April 1935, and for the years that led up to the Second World War she participated in the buildup of forces.

On 7 December 1941, the date of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the US entry into the war, the Monaghan was in the harbor itself.

In the minutes leading up to the large-scale aerial attack, the Monaghan was asked to assist the Ward, which had just sunk an unidentified submarine at the mouth of the harbor. Before the Monaghan could get underway, Japanese planes began attacking docked ships. She opened fire and got underway to join the Ward. While en route to the mouth of the harbor, the Monaghan received word of a Japanese midget submarine, which she made way for and rammed.

She next sailed for Wake Island to attempt to provide support to the embattled island, but the attempt was in vain, as the Japanese had captured Wake before any American vessels could effectively bring aid. She subsequently patrolled the area around Pearl Harbor, after which she served on convoy duty around the west coast. She then traveled to the South Pacific.

On 8 May, the Monaghan served as a transmitter in the lead-up to the engagement in the Coral Sea. She served on an ultimately unsuccessful rescue mission for survivors of Allied ships that were sunk by the enemy, returning to Pearl Harbor on 26 May. Two days later the Monaghan traveled to the Battle of Midway, serving as a screen for the Enterprise and a rescue ship for the crew of downed aircraft.

On 13 June, the Monaghan returned with her force to Pearl Harbor. While she traveled north to the Aleutians to confront enemy forces, she collided with another vessel in heavy fog and then went for repairs at Dutch Harbor and Pearl Harbor. After she returned to the South Pacific, her propellers were damaged on an unknown underwater object. She returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs, then traveled once again to the Aleutians, leaving on 21 February 1943.

Along with Task Group 16.69, she was involved in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands where the Monaghan served on patrol, bombardment duty and escort missions. She next served in the invasion of the Marshalls and the capture of Eniwetok where she assisted with guard duty, anti-aircraft missions and screening operations. The Monaghan also took part in the bombardment of Parry Island, the strikes on Yap, Woleai, and Palau, the Hollandia landings and the strikes at Ponape, Truk and Satawan.

During the invasion of Saipan, she patrolled alongside her group. After some preparation, she traveled to Guam for anti-submarine screening duty on 14 July. She then covered underwater demolition teams from 17 to 18 July through the provision of harassing gunfire. She continued with these missions until sailing for Pearl Harbor on 25 July. She then returned to the U.S. for overhaul at Puget Sound.

The Sinking of the Monaghan

The Monaghan trained again off the coast of California and Hawaii, then sailed for Ulithi on 11 November 1944. She joined an escort of three fleet oilers making their way to Task Force 38 near Luzon in support of the Mindoro invasion. Upon arrival, a dangerous typhoon began. In the storm, the 3rd Fleet lost the Spence, the Hull, the Monaghan and 790 sailors.

Only six men survived the sinking of the Monaghan, floating for three days in a raft. When they were finally picked up by the Brown, they described the sinking of the Monaghan. Their report is the only information that exists on the incident. They claimed the ship experienced roll after roll, finally capsizing.

Asbestos Risks

The fibrous mineral asbestos was routinely employed for compartment insulation and as fire control in every U.S. Navy ship through the 1960s. Each ship's engines and mechanical sections usually were the workspaces where seamen or a shipyard workers were prone to be in danger of inhaling airborne asbestos fibers, but essentially all compartments of the Monaghan posed a measurable level of asbestos exposure.

When the warship took damage, whether in battle, by catastrophic storms, or through misfortune, it usually uncovered asbestos-contaminated components to the air, allowing them to become airborne. If these microscopic fibers were inhaled, the risk of contracting an asbestos-related disease became a concern. However, most sailors and shipyard workers were unaware they were inhaling asbestos fibers.

If you have contracted an asbestos-related condition such as mesothelioma as a result of being exposed to asbestos, you may be entitled to compensation to help pay for treatment options and cover lost income. For more information about this and asbestos exposure, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a complimentary packet.

Sources:

Destroyers Index