USS Eversole
The USS Eversole was a Gearing class destroyer of the United States Navy. The vessel was named after John T. Eversole, a naval aviator killed in action at the Battle of Midway. Launched by Todd Pacific Shipyards of Tacoma, Washington in January of 1946, the Eversole was commissioned by the navy in May of that year, with Commander B.P. Ross in command. Eversole would arrive at her homeport of San Diego, California in October 1946. She would then sail to the Far East on two separate occasions in the years leading up to the Korean War.
In May of 1950, she would sail from San Diego on a similar mission but would find herself in the Orient at the outbreak of the war. Through February of 1951, Eversole would screen the massive carriers conducting strikes on North Korean targets. She would then return to San Diego for a brief overhaul. She would again depart for the East in August of 1952, assisting in the bombardment of Hungnam, Wonson, and other attack points along the East Coast of the Korean peninsula. Through 1952 and 1953, she would join a blockade force consisting of allied navy's collective fleets.
From 1953 to 1962, Eversole made annual cruises to the Orient, serving as an extension of the Taiwan patrol. She would conduct exercises in a variety of Pacific ports including Okinawa, the Philippines, as well as other island visits. She would return to the U.S. mainland via Australia in support of the 7th Fleet, providing integral screening and operational support to this peacekeeping mission. Between training and repairs, she made several visits to the Pacific Northwest and occasional cruises to the Hawaiian Islands. She would serve a limited role in 1969 and 1970 in the Vietnam War. Eversole was then sold to Turkey in 1973 and is today a working Museum.
Eversole appeared the naval landscape just following WWII and would miss that conflict. However, she would go on to appear in two global naval conflicts and provide important support to carriers and ground operations in Korea and Vietnam. The backbone of the Eversole's success was the brave sailors and servicemen who served aboard or in the repair yards to ensure the ship ran smoothly and efficiently. Unfortunately, many of these men were exposed to harmful chemicals and other substances while servicing naval ships, including asbestos. Asbestos was used extensively in ship construction and repair as an insulation material. It was commonly found around piping and other fixtures which required insulation. Those who worked around these materials or directly engaged them may have been exposed to dangerous asbestos fibers. For those who are in this risk pool, it is important they consult a physician to determine if they have been adversely affected. There are support structures in place to assist those who were exposed.
