USS John Craig
The USS John Craig was a Gearing class destroyer vessel of the United States Navy. She bore the namesake of Lieutenant Commander John R. Craig, commanding officer of the esteemed USS Grampus who was killed in action in 1943. The John Craig’s keel was laid in Orange, Texas at Consolidated Steel Corporation in November of 1944. She was launched on April 14th, 1945 by Lilian Hyde Craig, the widow of the Lieutenant Commander, and commissioned in the Navy in August 1945.
She did not participate in any combat action during the Second World War, but joined the navy’s Seventh Fleet in support of United Nations Forces during the Korean War. Prior to joining the operation, she underwent a massive overhaul in the fleet rehabilitation and modernization at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco.
John Craig also participated in the Vietnam War, serving as a plane guard for carriers conducting missions throughout the Gulf of Tonkin. She also participated in operation Sea Dragon, conducting patrols, search and rescue, and naval gunfire support missions. Newer destroyers were being introduced into the naval fleet, leaving the John Craig reassigned to a reserve training facility in San Diego. There she conducted goodwill tours of the West Coast, calling in Seattle, Washington, San Francisco, and Ensenada, Mexico.
The John Craig’s crew performed their duties with the courage and determination of her namesake. Unfortunately, these men may have also been exposed to asbestos while aboard the John Craig and other vessels. Asbestos was an industrial insulation material used extensively in vessel construction, particularly around piping, electrical fixtures, and other installations which required flame-retardant properties. Those who worked in close proximity of these installations or repaired older vessel fixtures were likely at risk. When inhaled, asbestos can cause extreme internal damage to the organs and other internal body structures. Those with known asbestos exposure history should be aware of possible adverse symptoms to their respiratory health, which may be indicative of an asbestos related condition.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
