USS Noble
The USS Noble began construction in 1944 at the Permanente Metals Corporation in Richmond, California and was later completed at the Kaiser Shipyard (also in Richmond). She was a Haskell Class attack transport ship, weighing 10,500 tons! The official launch for the ship was on October 18, 1944, and it was officially commissioned by the US Navy on November 27, 1944.
The Noble was called into action in Okinawa in 1945, and provided transportation for American soldiers as well as allied troops that had been taken as prisoners of war. She brought soldiers both to and from war zones and was used actively for this purpose between the years of 1946 and 1949. The ship was involved in a project known as Operation Magic Carpet, in which she helped to return servicemen who had fought in the Pacific back home to America.
By 1949 The Noble was back in the United States at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in San Francisco. In 1950, The Noble sailed to Korea to act as a transport for those fighting in the Korean War. She remained in active duty for this war until 1953. During that year she participated in Operation Big Switch, in which she transported Korean prisoners back home when the war was at an end.
From 1954 to 1962, The Noble primarily performed routine training exercises in the Pacific. When the Cuban Missile Crisis struck, the Noble was once again utilized to transport soldiers. She took 1,400 Marines to the Caribbean as part of the effort. She later joined the 7th Fleet Amphibious Ready Group in March of 1963 for a full tour, and then returned to San Diego that December
On July 1st, 1964, The Noble was officially decommissioned. Afterwards she was sold to Spain, and renamed The Aragon. During her time with the US Navy, The Noble carried many thousands of soldiers across the seas. She also carried items that were made with asbestos. Asbestos is a dangerous material that can lead to respiratory diseases, most notably mesothelioma. Asbestos is made up of tiny fibers, so it can be easily inhaled where it can cause great harm and even death. The passengers and crew who spent time on The Noble were put at risk of exposure to this toxic material. If you or anyone you know sailed on The Noble, get checked out by a physician for the possibility of an asbestos related illness.
