USS Corry DD-817 (1946-1981)
The third USS Corry was named after William Merrill Corry (1889-1920), who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service during World War I. It was constructed by Consolidated Steel Corporation of Texas in Orange, Texas. It was put into commission on February 27th, 1946 and was sponsored by Miss Corry. It was captained by Commander M. S. Shellabarger and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet.
Service in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean
The USS Corry sailed from Galveston, Texas, and made its way to the Caribbean for its shakedown. Finally, it arrived at its home base in Norfolk, Virginia on July 10th, 1946. Its first tour of duty took it to Mediterranean and European waters. This tour lasted from July 23rd, 1946 until March 19th, 1947. It then was sent to the Potomac River Naval Command to perform Reserve training cruises. The Corry then traveled to Pensacola, Florida to act as a plane guard for Carriers there from September 22nd, 1947 until April 28th, 1950.
On May 22nd, 1950, the USS Corry was sent to Norfolk to join Destroyer Squadron 8 to assist with antisubmarine exercises. It went to the Mediterranean to meet up with the 6th Fleet and serve with them from the 2nd of September until the 12th of November. It then sailed to northern Europe to sail a midshipman cruise, traveling to Gotesburg and Cherbourg, France, from June 1st until July 27th of 1951.
After another tour with the 6th Fleet, the Corry sailed to Norfolk, Virginia until April of 1951 doing local operations. It was then put out of commission to be upgraded to a radar picket destroyer. Its hull number was changed to DDR-817 on April 9th, 1953.
On January 9th 1954 it was put back into commission, and transported NROTC midshipmen to New Orleans, then continued through the Panama Canal for duties in the summer of 1954 at Balboa. For the next six years, it performed duties with the sixth fleet in the Mediterranean and operations on the east coast out of Norfolk, Virginia.
After Service
In 1981, the Corry was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register.  It was subsequently transferred to Greece and renamed the HNS Kriezis (D-217), where it served until 1994. The ship was finally sent to Turkey for scrapping in 2002.
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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