USS Mullany (Beatty) DD-528
The Mullany was named after Robert Madison Mullany (1818-1887). Mullany took part in both the Mexican War and the Civil War. The Beatty (DD 528) was renamed the Mullany (DD 528) in May, 1941. The ship was commissioned in April, 1943. After being commissioned, the Mullany headed to the Southwest Pacific, arriving in December of 1943, and joined the 7th Fleet.
Action in World War II
In March 1944, the Mullany protected minesweepers as they cleared the path to the harbor in the Admiralty Islands. Japanese ships fired on the Mullany, but the Mullany was able to defend itself and the minesweepers, allowing them to finish their mission. During the Leyte Gulf invasion in October, the Mullany fended off nine different air attacks.
In January of 1945, the Mullany escorted troop transport ships to Iwo Jima. In February of that year, on Mount Suribachi, the Mullany provided cover fire for troops.
In April of 1945, the Mullany was in Okinawa, where a Japanese fighter plane crashed into it, causing the depth charges in the ship to ignite. While in its damaged state, three more enemy fighters attacked the Mullany, but the ship and her crew gunned two down, while the other fled the counter attack. Comdr. Albert O. Momm, knowing the risk of explosion, ordered the crew to abandon the ship. The flames were extinguished later, and a small crew went back on and managed to get the ship back to the United States, stopping in Pearl Harbor and arriving in San Francisco in May. By September, the ship had been completely restored and headed to the Atlantic, via the Panama Canal, for duty.
After the War
The Mullany was decommissioned in February 1946, but was re-commissioned in May of 1951. During the next three years, the Mullany went on three peace-keeping missions in the Mediterranean. In 1954, the ship was reassigned to duty in the Pacific Fleet. Over the next ten years, the Mullany protected American interests in Asia by patrolling the waters nearby.
The Mullany also took part in the war in Vietnam. During November of 1966, 28 enemy ships were destroyed and 26 damaged by the Mullany. After that war ended, the Mullany was transferred to the Republic of China Navy in 1971. For its service in World War II, the Mullany received seven battle stars.
Asbestos in Navy Ships
Although an essential component of the naval fleet, especially during World War II, naval destroyers also pose a lasting health risk to soldiers serving on them. Unfortunately, products containing asbestos were common, especially on older ships, because of the material’s high resistance to heat and fire. Despite its value as an insulator, asbestos fiber intake can lead to several serious health consequences, including mesothelioma, a devastating cancer without cure. Current and former military personnel who came into contact with these ships should seek immediate medical attention in order to detect possible health consequences associated with asbestos exposure.
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