USS Cabot
The USS Cabot CVL 28 was an Independence-class aircraft carrier that was launched from the New York Shipbuilding Company in Camden, New Jersey on April 4, 1943. She was commissioned on July 24th, 1953 under the command of Captain M.F. Shoeffel. The USS Cabot CVL 28 steamed for Pearl Harbor on November 8th with Air Group 31 aboard and upon arrival on December 2nd, she had join with Allied forces to participate in the invasion and occupation of the island of Majuro which occurred on January 30th, 1944.
Upon completion of this brief time in the war zone, she returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs before sailing back into action. During June of 1944 the Cabot was charged with assisting in the clearing of Majuro and following the completion of this mission, proceeded to participate in the Battle of the Philippine Sea which was a crucial conflict that ended up being the decisive battle after which the Imperial Japanese Navy suffered immense deconstruction and failure.
After the successful results from the Leyte Gulf battle, the USS Cabot CVL 28 initiated its patrol near the waters off the coast of Luzon, where she supported shoreline tactical operations such as air strikes and repelling Japanese suicide attacks against the U. S. forces. The Cabot fought off an intensely aggressive attack from numerous kamikazes on November 25th, but was inevitably damaged after a flaming kamikaze aircraft smashed onto the flight deck of the Cabot, disabling and destroying two gun batteries.
Sadly, sixty crewmen lost their lives from that particular assault by kamikazes, but her fortunately her crew who was well trained handled the damage with bravery and the Cabot was able to continue with her mission at least long enough for the crew to have temporary repairs on their vessel. The Cabot made it back to Ulithi on her own strength and received permanent repairs at the end of November.
The Cabot finally returned to Pearl Harbor in early August and from there assisted in air strikes on Wake Island. The Cabot remained stationed at Eniwetok until the war was finished. The ship offered support to soldiers landing in the Yellow Sea area from September through October and then she steamed back to the United States for the last time. The USS Cabot CVL-28 was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and nine battle stars and was decommissioned on February 12th, 1947.
The USS Cabot CVL 28 and her crew faced many dangers during their service, but unfortunately the sailors faced a danger they were unaware of at the time. Their ship had been constructed with asbestos used as an insulator around many of its pipes and installations. We now know that workers exposed to asbestos are at risk for the development of lung and breathing problems including a type of cancer called mesothelioma, also referred to as asbestos cancer. Veterans who have reason to believe they may have come in contact with asbestos while aboard the Cabot or other ship should consult with a physician for an evaluation.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
