USS Belleau Wood
The USS Belleau Wood CVL 24 was an Independence-class aircraft carrier and a formidable force during World War II. The ship served her country during the First Indochina War under the temporary orders of the French Navy as Bois Belleau. The Belleau Wood CVL 24 was originally the Cleveland-class light cruiser the New Haven CL 76 when she was conceived but it was finished off and completed as an aircraft carrier and given the hull classification CVL-24 on February 16th, 1942 as well as being renamed the Belleau Wood on March 31st, 1942. The USS Belleau Wood was finally launched December 6th, 1942 from the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, New Jersey and was sponsored by a Mrs. Thomas Holcomb who was the wife of the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The Belleau Wood was officially commissioned on March 31st, 1943 under the command of Captain A. M. Pride.
The name of the ship was a memorial dedication to the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood. A battle where the brave and heroic U. S. Marines of the Fourth Brigade, American Expeditionary Forces, had successfully stopped in its tracks the last major German offensive of the entire war. The United States Marines were said to have fought so viciously that the Germans referred to them as Teufelhunde which meant Devil Dogs and this image became the ship's mascot as well as one of the most renowned nicknames for the US Marine Core. The Belleau Wood was then reclassified CVL-24 on July 15th, 1943. The Belleau Wood was appointed to the Pacific Fleet and arrived at Pearl Harbor on July 26th, 1943.
She participated in the assault on Honshu Island, Japan as well as Nansei Shoto. The ship supported the U. S. landings on Iwo Jima and she also assisted with the 5th and 3rd Fleet strikes against Japan. The USS Belleau Wood flew her squadron of planes on September 2nd during the mass flight over Tokyo, Japan which occurred while the surrender ceremonies took place.
The Belleau Wood stayed within the waters of Japan until October 13th. She finally arrived back at Pearl Harbor on October 28th and then departed about three days after with 1248 crewmen aboard headed for San Diego. The ship was officially placed out of commission and into reserve at Alameda Naval Air Station on January 13th, 1947. The USS Belleau Wood CVL 24 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and twelve battle stars for service in World War II.
The USS Belleau Wood CVL 24 was built during a period when the dangers of asbestos contamination were not well known. Unfortunately, the men who worked with the insulation material around piping areas within the ship itself may be at higher risk for developing respiratory problems and deadly diseases like mesothelioma cancer. Any crewmember who served aboard the USS Belleau Wood CVL 24 who is at all concerned they may have been exposed to asbestos should consult a medical doctor for further respiratory evaluation. Veterans who are diagnosed with mesothelioma will need to consider various methods of mesothelioma treatment.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
