USS Wilkes DD-441

USS Wilkes (DD-441), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was built at the Boston Navy Yard, launched on 31 May 1940, and commissioned on 22 April 1941 under the captaincy of Lt. Cmdr. J. D. Kelsey.

Initial Operations

After her initial shakedown training off the New England coast, Wilkes' early duties consisted largely of escorting convoys. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Wilkes spent the rest of December escorting convoys from NS Argentia to Icelandic ports.

More Escort Missions

Throughout most of 1942, Wilkes continued to escort supply convoys to Europe. While en route to Naval Station Argentia, Wilkes ran aground in a thick fog during the pre-dawn hours of 18 February 1942. She was able to back out into deep water, and there were no serious casualties, but she sustained damage requiring six weeks of repair in Boston. She was barely back in the water when, on 8 April, Wilkes was struck on the port side by the British oil tanker SS Davila, putting her out of commission for another eight weeks.

Following gunnery and antiaircraft practice and antisubmarine exercises at Casco Bay, Wilkes returned to her escort duties, interspersed with periodic training exercises, until 24 October, when she got underway for North Africa.

Operation Torch

On 8 November 1942, Wilkes participated in the assault on Fedhala, French Morocco; she engaged with enemy craft on two occasions over the next three days. Rescue missions for survivors of torpedoed ships and U-boat hunts kept Wilkes' crew busy until she steamed for home on the 17th. Wilkes arrived at Norfolk on 30 November 1942 and spent the month of December conducting short escort and patrol missions in waters off New York and Casco Bay, Maine.

1943-1944

During the first four months of 1943, Wilkes made two voyages from New York to Casablanca and back. The destroyer then made runs between New York and Norfolk through 14 May 1943. After a convoy run to the Panama Canal and several east coast port calls from 29 May through 9 June, she devoted the remainder of 1943 to escort duty to North Africa, making three round trips between 10 June and 25 December.

On 7 January 1944, Wilkes got underway for Milne Bay, New Guinea, arriving on 20 February 1944. Between 1 March and 18 August 1944, Wilkes escorted larger vessels and provided fire support throughout the combat zone as required. On 19 August, Wilkes departed the New Guinea area and set a course for the Marshall Islands, arriving on 25 August. Three days later, she joined the Fast Carrier Task Force, screening the flattops as they launched air strikes against Japanese bases. On 14 October, Wilkes accompanied the task force to the Philippines for preliminary operations until the 24th. On the 26th, Wilkes proceeded to Ulithi Atoll for upkeep and repairs.

After another month of escort duty, Wilkes set sail for home. On 15 December, the destroyer arrived in Puget Sound, entering Todd's Pacific Shipbuilding Co. yard at Seattle on 17 December for an overhaul.

End Game

Wilkes returned to duty on 28 January 1945, arriving at Ulithi Atoll on 19 March. Three days later, she proceeded to Guam, where she was dry-docked for repairs to her underwater sound equipment.

At the end of April, Wilkes received orders to escort a convoy to Okinawa. She arrived on 1 May. In addition to other duties, she patrolled off the southern entrance to Kerama Retto, a former IJN base then under US control. Between 12 and 22 May, Wilkes covered carriers for routine flight operations and strikes on Nansei Shoto.

On 15 August, Wilkes received an official notice telling her that Japan had surrendered. Five days later, Wilkes was anchored at Ulithi Atoll for voyage repairs and routine upkeep.

Post-War

After spending the fall on occupation duty, Wilkes sailed for home, reaching Charleston, South Carolina on 2 December.

Wilkes was placed decommissioned on 4 March 1946. She was sold to the Southern Scrap Material Co., Ltd. of New Orleans on 29 June 1972.

Asbestos Risks

Through both world wars, each Navy vessel routinely employed asbestos for insulating pipes and for fireproofing. Though nearly every part of a ship like the USS Wilkes offered at least some asbestos exposure, a vessel's boilers and engineering spaces were the workspaces where sailors or shipyard workers were apt to be in danger of inhaling asbestos fibers. Whenever the ship took damage, whether due to enemy fire, by severe weather, or through misfortune, it frequently exposed asbestos-laden materials to the open air or subjected them to fire or water. This meant additional risk of experiencing extensive asbestos exposure.

The worst risk of harmful exposure relating to asbestos occurs in situations where items containing the mineral are friable, tiny asbestos strands go into the air, and the particles are then inhaled by people nearby. A high level of asbestos risk is known to be definitively associated with peritoneal mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer and other dangerous medical conditions.

Since many asbestos-caused disorders are difficult to distinguish from other illnesses, anyone with a history of exposure to asbestos fibers should definitely inform their primary physicians of the details about this history. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease as a result of working aboard a contaminated vessel and would like to learn more about treatment options or financial assistance to help pay for medical costs, please fill out the form on this page to receive a comprehensive packet in the mail.

As is the case with people on her sister vessels, those who fought aboard the Wilkes were endangered by asbestos inhalation, particularly since the ship saw experienced serious damage at sea and went through extensive reworkings and repairs. Besides the major damage and overhauls, sailors who served on the Wilkes were also subject to inhalation of asbestos in the conduct of their everyday service.

Moreover, asbestos exposure was a daily occurrence for repair personnel such as welders and mechanics who maintained the craft whenever she was dry-docked. Considering the Wilkes' service record, and in light of our increased understanding of the consequences of asbestos inhalation, it is imperative that the troops who at any time in their career lived or toiled aboard this vessel, and those assigned to other Navy ships, understand the dangers posed by wartime exposure to asbestos.

Sources:

Destroyers Index