USS James C. Owens
The USS James C. Owens is the only vessel in the US fleet to be named for Lieutenant James Owens. He was a member of Torpedo Squadron 8 of the USS Hornet. The entire squadron was lost during the battle of Midway in an attack against enemy carriers. The Owens, a Sumner-class Destroyer was built in San Pedro, California and commissioned in 1945.
She sailed to the East China Sea in July and participated in anti shipping sweeps of those waters. After the Japanese surrendered in September, the Owens remained off Southern Japan, serving as a courier and escort ship. In December, she sailed for the US and spent more than a year patrolling in coastal waters of the Atlantic from Texas to New England.
In 1948 she sailed to the Mediterranean and acted in support of UN forces attempting to keep peace in the troubled Middle East region.
She was decommissioned in early 1950 but was called back into service in September of that year, after hostilities in Korea broke out. By February of 1952 she was patrolling the Korean coastline aiding in blockades and shipping interdictions. She bombarded coastal military installations and silenced several, but received six direct hits during her efforts.
After repairs she returned to Korean waters and helped to prevent violations of the newly signed armistice until 1954.
During the following years, the Owens was sent to the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. She was refitted in 1962 and updated for more modern purposes, acting as support for nuclear submarines and engaging in antisubmarine maneuvers. In July of 1965, she was designated as one of the recovery ships for the Gemini V space mission, and later performed the same duty for a series of unmanned Apollo launches. The Owens was decommissioned in 1973 and transferred to the Brazilian Navy.
The crewmembers of the Owens performed a wide variety of duties during her years of service, but regrettably, they were exposed to a hazard they were unaware of at the time. Asbestos was used extensively in the construction of the Owens, primarily as insulation around her electrical systems and pipes. We are now aware that people who work closely around asbestos are vulnerable to a variety of respiratory problems including a type of cancer known as mesothelioma. Anyone who experienced such exposure on the Owens or in another workplace may be at risk. It is recommended that people with concerns see a thoracic specialist for evaluation.
