USS Pope DD-225

The USS Pope (DD-225) was a Clemson-class destroyer launched in March 1920 at the shipyard of William Cramp and Sons in Philadelphia. She was commissioned there on 27 October under the command of Commander Richard S. Galloway.

Early Service

The USS Pope spent most of her early years in China during a particularly troubled period in that country's history. Her primary mission was to protect American interests at this time. Her secondary mission was to establish the U.S. presence in East Asia and support the colonial interests of its French and Dutch allies.

By 1937, the nascent Japanese Empire was flexing its muscles. Increased tension on China's northern borders due to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria made evacuation of U.S. citizens necessary, which was Pope's primary task during the fall of that year. During the summer of 1938, she patrolled Chinese waters off Chinwangtao and then returned 5 June 1939 with the South China Patrol force to evacuate American consulates and nationals.

The Pope also witnessed Japanese Naval forces as they sailed to the Chinese port of Swatow in order to capture and occupy the city. She remained in this area until returning to Manila in October for Neutrality Patrol in the Philippines. She served on that assignment for the next two years, except for a brief period patrolling the Chinese coast in the summer of 1940.

World War II

On 11 December 1941, the Pope was ordered to Balikpapan, Dutch East Indies where she was heavily engaged in the fighting during the early days of the war. Around 1:00 in the afternoon of 1 March 1942, the USS Pope was attacked and sunk by 12 Japanese dive-bombers. The next day, her survivors, along with those from a British vessel that sunk as well, were rescued by the IJN Ikazuchi. The survivors were in the water for nearly 20 hours.

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 Pope 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