USS San Jacinto
The USS San Jacinto CVL 30 was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier that was launched from the New York Shipbuilding Co. in Camden, New Jersey and was then re-named the Reprisal CV-30 on June 2nd, 1942. During her construction the new ship was officially re-named the USS San Jacinto and converted into a light aircraft carrier as well as receiving the new hull classification CVL 30. The San Jacinto was sponsored by a Mrs. Jesse Jones and was officially launched on September 26th 1942 and commissioned on November 15th, 1943 under the command of Captain Harold M. Martin. The USS San Jacinto CVL 30 was immediately ordered to depart for the Pacific war zone in a manner that could be referred to as baptism by fire. She traveled via the Panama Canal and onward passing San Diego and heading towards Pearl Harbor.
Upon her final arrival at Majuro within the Marshall Islands the USS San Jacinto had launched her Air Group 51 pilots and torpedo planes and the San Jacinto then participated with air support protecting the carriers assaulting the Wake and Marcus Islands until their strike fleet steamed to the Marianas on June 5th, 1944. During the largest combined fleet action since the battle of Midway two years prior, the USS San Jacinto conducted multiple air strikes in preparation of the American seizure of Saipan. The USS San Jacinto CVL was then thrust under severe attack as the carrier force supported the invasion of Okinawa. A staggering total that exceeded more than 500 Japanese aircraft had attacked on April 5th, 1945 but although about 300 of these enemy pilots were brought down by fighter planes and anti-aircraft guns a large many of them actually got through.
The USS San Jacinto CVL continued to defend as best it could against the suicidal pilots that were attacking and smashing their planes into their enemies. The San Jacinto began staging strikes on the actual Kamikaze airfields at Kyushu as well as provided close air support for the soldiers landing on Okinawa. The San Jacinto CVL had successfully weathered another typhoon on June 5th and then replenished at Leyte. The USS San Jacinto CVL was officially decommissioned on March 1st, 1947. She was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and received five battle stars for her service in World War II.
Many brave sailors served aboard the USS San Jacinto CVL. Unfortunately, the toxic substance asbestos also found a home on the ship, within the pipes and insulation materials. Asbestos exposure has been proven to be the leading cause of mesothelioma, a deadly and rare form of cancer. The crewmen who sailed on the USS San Jacinto and the men who worked on her while she was docked were all subject to exposure. Any veteran crewmembers or repair personnel that may have come in contact these airborne asbestos fibers should closely monitor their respiratory health and consult their medical physician immediately to proceed with the appropriate mesothelioma treatment if needed.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
