USS Wisconsin BB 64

The USS Wisconsin BB 64 is an Iowa-class battleship that was built and then launched from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 7^th, 1943. She earned the nickname “Wisky” noting her name, the Wisconsin and was sponsored by Mrs. Goodland, the wife of Walter S. Goodland who was the Governor of Wisconsin at the time. The ship was commissioned on April 16^th, 1944 under the command of Captain Earl E. Stone. Although the USS Wisconsin BB 64 is numerically the highest numbered U. S. battleship built, she was completed before the USS Missouri BB 63.

On December 9^th, 1944 during the initial thrust into World War II, the Wisconsin arrived to the Pacific when the re-conquest of the Philippines was well underway. As a part of that movement, the planners had envisioned landings on the southwest coast of Mindoro, south of Luzon. From that point, the American forces could threaten Japanese shipping lanes through the South China Sea. In preparation for the coming invasion of Mindoro, the Wisconsin was assigned to protect the Third Fleet's First Carrier Task Force 38, as they conducted air raids at Manila to soften up Japanese positions. On December 18^th, 1944 the ships of Task Force 38 unexpectedly found themselves in a fight for their lives when Typhoon Cobra overtook the fleet along with six light carriers, eight battleships, 15 cruisers, and about 50 destroyers during their attempt to refuel at sea.

After the end of World War II, the battleship embarked with American soldiers heading home on September 22^nd, 1945 as part of Operation Magic Carpet staged to bring soldiers, sailors, and marines’ home from the far-flung battlefronts of the Pacific. During the North Korean invasion of South Korea in late June of 1950 the USS Wisconsin steamed out to the Pacific waters once again to assist the fast carrier Task Force 77 screening destroyers and providing gunfire support.

She also played a major role in Operation Desert Shield which was the protection of Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion in 1991. She was officially and finally laid to rest being decommissioned on September 30^th, 1991. The USS Wisconsin BB 64 received five battle ship stars for her service in World War II, one for service in the Korean War. She also received a Combat Action Ribbon and a Navy Unit Commendation for actions in Korea and for Operation Desert Storm.

The USS Wisconsin BB 64 and her crew were at constant risk from enemy attack as well as violent weather, yet that wasn’t the only threat present. Asbestos-laden materials were commonly acquired for use with the insulation of ships and submarines, more specifically the insulation that dealt with piping. That posed a great danger to the crews who were inhaling these deadly airborne substances. Any retired crewmembers that may have been exposed to this deadly asbestos need to monitor their respiratory health very closely amid growing concerns, due to asbestos being linked to the development of mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer.

Last modified: December 09 2009.