USS McCall (DD-28)
The USS McCall (DD-28) served in the US Navy for nearly two-and-a-half decades, starting in the second decade of the 20th century. She was named for Captain Edward R. McCall who commanded the brig Enterprise during engagement with HMS Boxer 5 in September 1813, and received a Congressional gold medal for his actions. McCall was built as a Paulding-class ship.
Construction
The 742-ton McCall was laid down in June, 1909 by New York Shipbuilding in Camden, New Jersey, launched in June 1910, and commissioned in January 1911, with Lieutenant Commander J.T. Tomkins in command. McCall was 293 feet, 10 inches long with a crew of 86, and was armed with five three-inch rapid-fire guns and three 18-inch torpedo tubes. She was propelled by four boilers and three Parsons turbines that provided 17,393 horsepower.
Naval History
McCall operated mainly out of Newport, Rhode Island and the Chesapeake Bay area as a member of the Torpedo Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet. During the winter, McCall was deployed to Cuban waters, and then performed neutrality patrols off New York and New England in 1916. She was overhauled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and escorted a troop convoy to Europe from New York in 1917, and continued escort duties in the western Atlantic until being deployed to Queenstown, Ireland in January 1918, providing escort and rescue services from February to December.
In January 1919, McCall returned to the United States and operated along the east coast until being decommissioned at Philadelphia in December. McCall was held in reserve until June 1924, and was transferred to the United States Coast Guard, but returned to Navy service in October 1930. She was sold and broken up for scrap in May 1934 in accordance with the London Treaty for Naval Disarmament, and her name was stricken from the Navy list in June 1934.
Asbestos Risk on the USS McCall (DD-28)
The USS McCall was built before the health dangers of asbestos were fully realized. As a result, she made extensive use of the mineral as insulation and fireproofing in and around her engine rooms, boilers, and mess. When the asbestos containing materials are damaged or worn, they loose dangerous asbestos fibers into the air. Sailors that worked near such systems face a significant risk of having inhaled these airborne fibers, putting themselves in danger of asbestos diseases like mesothelioma.
Even with modern medical help, the survival rate for mesothelioma is very low. Sailors from the McCall's era that contracted the disease were likely even less fortunate. If your loved one suffered mesothelioma and served on this or any other naval vessel, you may have a legal right to compensation for their injury. Complete the form on this page for more information about mesothelioma, today's treatments, and legal options you can pursue. We'll send you a free packet with the facts.
Sources
NavSource Naval History, USS McCall (DD-28).
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/028.htm Retrieved 17 December 2010
Department of the Navy – Naval Historical Center.
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m7/mccall-i.htm Retrieved 17 December 2010
Tin Can Sailors, USS McCall (DD-28)., Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
http://www.destroyers.org/DANFS/h-DD-28.htm Updated 1981. Retrieved 17 December 2010
