USS Pillsbury DD-227

The USS Pillsbury (DD-227) was a Clemson-class destroyer, laid down by William Cramp and Sons on 23 October 1919 and launched 3 August 1920. She was commissioned 15 December 1920 under command of Lt. H. W. Barnes. Clemson-class destroyers were of a flush-duck, four-stack design that was largely obsolete by the Second World War, but many of these aging destroyers found active roles during that conflict.

Service History

The Pillsbury spent virtually her entire career in the Pacific. In 1941, Pillsbury was stationed in Manila under the command of Lt. Cmdr. Harold C. Pound. On 27 November, ten days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Pillsbury was ordered to Borneo where she was operating with Dutch and Australian vessels when the U.S. was pulled into the war on 7 December.

For the next few months, the Pillsbury operated in the area on reconnaissance sorties and anti-submarine patrols. Although the war went badly for the Allies during the first several months, the crew of Pillsbury acquitted themselves well during that time, participating in the destruction of one Japanese vessel during the Battle of Badoeng Strait in February 1942.

By the end of February, the aging and worn Pillsbury was ordered to Tjilatjap for repairs. The action around Bali had taken its toll and she was badly in need of overhaul and replenishment. According to Japanese naval logs examined after the war, Pillsbury met her end on 2 March 1942 at the hands of the IJN Takao and Atago. These two cruisers caught up with her that evening as she was attempting to escape from Japanese-held waters south of Java. After a brief running gun battle, the Pillsbury went down 200 miles east of Christmas Island just after 9 p.m., taking her entire crew with her.

Asbestos Risks

The mineral asbestos was widely installed for insulation and as fire control in each U.S. Navy destroyer through both world wars. While nearly every part of a ship like the USS Pillsbury offered at least some asbestos exposure, the vessel's boilers and engineering compartments were the workspaces where sailors and shipyard workers were apt to be in danger of inhaling asbestos fibers.

When dealing with asbestos, the highest level of danger to human health happens in situations where items containing the mineral become damaged and breakable, because if the asbestos filaments escape into the air, the particles can be inhaled by those near the hazard. Numerous studies have shown that dangerous medical conditions such as mesothelioma are caused by even modest levels of asbestos exposure. Naval veterans with a history of exposure to this mineral should immediately tell their primary physician as related conditions can often be misdiagnosed.

If you have already been diagnosed with an illness related to asbestos exposure, you may have legal options for compensation. Many have received financial assistance to help pay for medical expenses and lost income. If you would like to learn more about this and treatment options, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a complimentary packet.

Sources:

Destroyers Index