USS Card
The USS Card CVE 11 was a Bogue-class escort aircraft carrier that was launched from Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding in Tacoma, Washington, later known as Todd Pacific Shipyard on February 27th, 1942 and sponsored by a Mrs. J. Perry. The ship was officially commissioned on November 8th, 1942 under the command of Captain J. B. Sykes. Upon departing San Diego Bay on January 18th, 1943 the USS Card had arrived at Hampton Roads on February 1st for procedural exercises in Chesapeake Bay. The ship carried planes and troops in preparation for the North African invasion from the waters off New York to the infamous Casablanca finally returning to Norfolk, Virginia on July 1st. The Card then cruised from Norfolk, Virginia as the newly appointed flagship of TG 21 which was a hunter-killer naval group that was ultimately formed to operate offensive tactical maneuvers against German U-Boats.
The maiden voyage of the Card within this new group occurred from July 27th to September 10th 1943 and was very successful. Her second found her steaming through the waters of the Pacific from September 25th until November 9th and proved to be much more interesting of a hunt. At one point during their patrol they encountered and were confronted with an extremely aggressive, close-range surface action where the Borie rammed and sank U-405 head on. Unfortunately, the Borie had to be sunk by one of the other escort ships because she was too damaged to be salvaged. Due to her incredible and unmatchable antisubmarine successes from July 27th to October 25th, the USS Card and her brave task group received the Presidential Unit Citation.
The USS Card finally returned to her station and then entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for a complete overhaul until February 7th where she then transported Army aircraft and various military personnel to Liverpool, England finally returning to Norfolk, Virginia on March 12th. The USS Card ferried crewmen and aircraft to Guantanamo Bay and then cruised through the Panama Canal transit system in order to transport supplies to Pearl Harbor and Guam where afterwards she returned to San Diego on August 14th 1945. The USS Cabot CVE 11 was officially placed out of commission on March 10th, 1970. In addition to her Presidential Unit Citation, the USS Card CVE 11 received three battle stars for brave and heroic service in World War II.
The crewmembers of the USS Card CVE 11 were constantly in perilous danger during their tours of duty, but with much regret, the men who worked aboard the Card were exposed to a danger they knew nothing about. The ship was constructed, like many others of its time, with asbestos used for insulation around piping and duct systems. Hence forth, the crew who served aboard the ship is at risk for severe lung conditions, including a type of cancer called mesothelioma. Anyone with concerns about possible exposure to asbestos on the USS Card should consult with a medical physician for an evaluation and take the steps to begin mesothelioma treatment if it is needed.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
