USS Puget Sound
The USS Puget Sound began its life at Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc. in Tacoma Washington in May of 1944. The ship was completed by November 20, 1944, and officially commissioned to the US Navy on June 18, 1945 under the command of Captain Charles F. Coe. Her designation was as a Commencement Bay Class Escort Carrier.
The ship was located in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard until July 6, 1945, when she sailed to Hawaii to prepare for her first major mission in Japan. She arrived in Tokyo Bay on October 14, 1945 and joined the fleet of the 10th Army stationed in Matsuyama and Nagoya. After her stint there, she was sent out to Guam to load up surplus airplanes and then delivered them to Pearl Harbor.
After these missions, The Puget Sound participated in operation Magic Carpet and transported a large number of troops and aircraft between California and Japan. She made two of these runs between February and May of 1946. By the end of May, the ship was en route back to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to be officially decommissioned. She was put into the Pacific Reserve Fleet, and re-classified to be a cargo ship and an aircraft ferry.
In 1960 The Puget Sound was deleted from the Navy List, and by 1962 she was sold for scrap. During her active years, she provided transportation for many men and a lot of equipment. Those who sailed on The Puget Sound were sadly placed at risk because The Puget Sound had products made from asbestos on board. Asbestos is a dangerous substance that is made up of tiny fibers and often used in items such as insulation. When these fibers are inhaled, they will remain in the body for many years and can lead to diseases, such as a type of cancer known as mesothelioma. Crew members from this ship should pay close attention to their respiratory health, and see a doctor if they have any concerns about possible exposure to asbestos.
