Discovering the USS Avery Island and Its Legacy

The USS Avery Island was a ship that served its country with pride, and its legacy lives on today.

The USS Avery Island was a ship that served as a patrol boat during World War II.

The ship was named after Avery Island, which is located off the coast of Louisiana.

Avery Island is known for its unique ecosystem and natural beauty, with a variety of wildlife and plants that can be found nowhere else.

Avery Island was laid down on 31 October 1944 at South Portland, Maine, by the New England Shipbuilding Corporation.

She was launched on 13 December 1944 and sponsored by Mrs. Robert LeBourdais.

Avery Island was commissioned on 21 December 1944 and steamed to the Atlantic Basin Iron Works in Brooklyn, New York, where she was placed out of commission on Christmas Eve for conversion work.

Avery Island was recommissioned on 31 July 1945 at the New York Navy Yard and conducted trial runs in Long Island Sound and shakedown training in Chesapeake Bay.

She underwent a yard availability at Norfolk, Virginia, and reported to Service Force, Atlantic Fleet, for duty on 6 September.

Avery Island was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 26 May 1947, at San Pedro, California, after being used in Operation Crossroads and undergoing radiological decontamination.

Her designation was changed to AKS-24 on 18 August 1951, and she was transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration on 4 January 1960.

Avery Island was laid down on 31 October 1944 at South Portland, Maine, by the New England Shipbuilding Corporation.

The ship was launched on 13 December 1944 and sponsored by Mrs. Robert LeBourdais.

Avery Island was acquired by the Navy and commissioned on 21 December 1944.

The ship was placed out of commission on Christmas Eve for conversion work and remained so until 31 July 1945.

Avery Island was recommissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 31 July 1945.

The ship conducted trial runs in Long Island Sound and shakedown training in Chesapeake Bay after recommissioning.

Avery Island underwent a yard availability at Norfolk, Virginia, as part of her training period.

The ship reported to Service Force, Atlantic Fleet, for duty on 6 September 1945.

Avery Island steamed out of Hampton Roads on 7 September 1945, bound for the Pacific Ocean.

The ship transited the Panama Canal on 15 September 1945.

Avery Island arrived at San Diego, California, on 28 September 1945.

The ship continued on to Hawaii, dropping anchor in Pearl Harbor on 14 October 1945.

Avery Island remained in Tokyo, Japan, from 14 October to 18 November 1945.

The ship returned to San Francisco, California, on 7 December 1945.

Avery Island was overhauled at Hunters Point, California, after returning to San Francisco.

The ship loaded with supplies and personnel for Operation Crossroads on 6 May 1946.

Avery Island sailed as a unit of Joint Task Force 1 for Operation Crossroads.

The ship entered the lagoon at Bikini Atoll on 1 June 1946.

Avery Island carried out instrumentation tests during Operation Crossroads.

Following the end of this mission, Avery Island returned to San Francisco on 21 August 1946.

The ship shifted to San Pedro, California, on 3 October 1946.

Avery Island was assigned to the 19th Fleet in October 1946.

The vessel was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 26 May 1947, at San Pedro.

The ship's designation was changed to AKS-24 on 18 August 1951.

Avery Island was transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration on 4 January 1960.

The ship was subsequently sold for scrapping.

The USS Avery Island, a miscellaneous auxiliary ship, was built with asbestos in its equipment and structures, posing a risk to those who served on board.

During its time in service, the ship underwent revisions and instrumentation tests, which likely increased the amount of asbestos exposure for its crew.

The ship sailed for Bikini Atoll to carry out tests as part of Operation Crossroads, where it was exposed to atomic bombs and underwent radiological decontamination operations.

Navy jobs that carried particularly high risks for asbestos exposure include boiler technicians, electricians, gunner’s mates, hull technicians, machinists, metalsmiths, and pipefitters.

Veterans of the US Navy who served from the 1940s through the 1970s face an increased risk of lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.

The USS Avery Island remained in the reserve fleet until 1951, and its asbestos exposure history highlights the need for awareness and precautions in the Navy's use of asbestos.

The USS Avery Island's journey was a significant milestone in its service history, marked by a major departure from its usual routine. On August 7, 1946, the ship "weighed anchor" and headed straight for the channel.

The Captain called muster right after breakfast, signaling the start of this new chapter. This was a significant moment, as the crew's daily routine was about to change dramatically.

The USS Avery Island passed Enyu Island on its way to San Francisco harbor. This marked a major shift in the ship's operations, as it transitioned from its usual duties to a new destination.

August 21, 1946, was a notable date, as the USS Avery Island slipped under the Golden Gate Bridge and docked in San Francisco harbor. This marked the end of its journey, and a new beginning for the crew.

The USS Avery Island was launched on December 13, 1944, and was later acquired by the Navy, being commissioned on December 21, 1944.

She was immediately sent to the Atlantic Basin Iron Works in Brooklyn, New York, for conversion work, and was recommissioned on July 31, 1945.

The USS Avery Island reported for duty on September 6, 1945, and was bound for the Pacific.

She arrived at the Bikini Atoll on June 1, 1946, to carry out instrumentation tests during Operation Crossroads.

The Able and Baker atomic bomb tests were conducted during this operation, and the USS Avery Island played a crucial role in determining the effects of these bombs on naval vessels.

Dad was one of the 42,000 military and civilian personnel involved in the tests.