USS Skagit
The USS Skagit was the name or a Rankin class attack cargo vessel bearing the namesake of Skagit Couty, WA. The hull was laid for the construction at the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company of Wilmington, NC. She was launched on November 18th, 2003 and tranferred to the United States Navy later in the month of November. She was commissioned on May 2nd, 1945 after being converted into an attack vessel at the the Bethlehem Steel Company in Brooklyn, New York. Her maiden commander was Capt. Harold R. Parker.
Skagit prepared and received final shakedown training in Norfolk, VA before setting out in early June for the South of France. Once in France, she loaded crew and cargo and set sail for Manila in the Phillipines. From the Phillipines she sailed onward to the Bay of Tokyo. Though she saw no battle action during WWII, Skagit participated in the surrender ceremony in Tokyo in early September of 1945. During the remainder of 1945, Skagit transported cargo and crew throughout the Pacific ports of Guam, Okinawa, and Shanghai.
Skagit was not again fully commissioned until 1950, where she began preparations for operations around the Korean peninsula at the outset of the Korean conflict. Skagit participated in many important operations during the Korean conflict, including the transportation of refugees fleeing the Communist state. Skagit would again re-surface in the late 1960’s when she participated in the Vietnam war, transporting troops and supplies throughout the area around Vietnam and other Pacific ports.
The storied history of the Skagit however, has now been stained by the asbestos exposure that occurred among her crew members and those who conducted repairs on the vessel. Asbestos was an insulation material that was used for many years before it was found to be carcinogenic. Many of those who serves aboard naval vessels or worked in naval shipyards have been afflicted by the rare cancer mesothelioma, an aggressive malignancy known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos. If you served aboard or worked on naval vessels built prior to 1980, it is important you consult with a physician about possible asbestos exposure that may have occurred. Early detection of asbestos-related disease is the single most important factor in obtaining treatment for these conditions.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
