The USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer that operated in multiple conflict and protectorate areas between 1943 when it was laid down, and 1971, when it was decommissioned. Like most Navy ships of its time, the Lyman K. Swenson was built using a significant amount of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials and relied on many asbestos-containing supplies. Many of those who served aboard the ship have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses, and those who served in the later years of her service remain at risk.
About the USS Lyman K. Swenson
The USS Lyman K. Swenson was one of 58 Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers built during World War II. The destroyers were distinguished from previous versions by multiple advancements, including twin 5-inch/38 caliber gun mounts, dual rudders, and additional anti-aircraft weapons. The ship was named for Lyman Knute Swenson, a 1916 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who rose to the rank of captain and was killed in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. Swenson was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, and in 1943, the Lyman K. Swenson was laid down, sponsored by the captain’s daughter, Cecilia A. Swenson. It was commissioned at the Boston Navy Yard.[1]
The ship was built by the Bath Iron Works, a Maine shipyard founded in 1884 that used asbestos in shipbuilding for decades. Displacing 2,200 tons and measuring 376 feet long, the ship had a maximum speed of 34 knots and a range of 6,500 nautical miles at 15 knots. Like other Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers, she was powered by four Babcock & Wilcox or Foster Wheeler boilers and two General Electric or Westinghouse geared steam turbines.
The ship received five battle stars for its World War II service, as well as six battle stars for its service in Korea. She ended her years of service as an engineering school ship, was assigned availability to the Development and Training Command, served briefly in Vietnam, and then returned to her home port of San Diego in 1970 before being decommissioned in 1971. In 1974, she was sold to Taiwan.[1]
Service and Deployment History of the USS Lyman K. Swenson
The USS Lyman K. Swenson’s commission did not come until 1944 after the Atlantic battle was won, but it completed a shakedown cruise out of Bermuda and then headed to the Pacific by way of the Panama Canal. At Pearl Harbor, her crew completed anti-submarine and anti-aircraft training, then left for the war zone, anchoring at Ulithi.[1]
The ship joined Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 61, screening a group of 10 oilers and refueling Admiral Halsey’s carrier forces off the Philippines during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. She then provided carrier support, experiencing her first hostile action at Leyte, after which the group returned to Ulithi for repairs.[1]
She continued screening carrier groups, rescuing seven aircrew members while on plane guard duty and enduring a typhoon with waves over 50 feet high. She participated in a 3,800-mile raid on Formosa, Luzon, and Japanese shipping along the Vietnamese and Chinese coasts, then returned to Ulithi to support strikes on Okinawa and Kyushu, during which time she downed her first Japanese plane. She also participated in shore bombardments before returning to San Pedro Bay, Leyte, to prepare for operations leading to Japan’s surrender.
As part of a task force of carriers, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, Lyman K. Swenson attacked the Japanese home islands, conducting an anti-shipping sweep in Honshu and then remaining in Japanese waters until Japan’s formal surrender. She left Tokyo Bay and, after picking up passengers in Okinawa, returned to the U.S. and entered dry dock at San Francisco.[1]
From 1946 to 1947, she served with the 7th Fleet in the Far East, patrolling the coasts of China, Korea, and Japan before returning to San Diego. Over the next two years, she trained naval reservists off the West Coast, and then in 1950, she returned to the Pacific. When the Korean War broke out, she joined carrier Boxer and launched the first carrier-based strike against North Korea. Her duties included shore bombardments and plane guard missions, with highlights such as the Inchon landing. The ship endured casualties from a near-miss, but the following day she supported the amphibious assault and received the Navy Unit Commendation and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.
After returning home, she deployed again in 1951 and 1952, focusing on disrupting North Korean transport. She earned praise for her effectiveness, and after the Korean conflict ended, she was sent on six-month deployments in the Western Pacific until 1960, when she was refitted with enhanced anti-submarine capabilities, including a helicopter flight deck. Afterward, she joined extended 7th Fleet operations, then operated in the Far East, including visits to Bangkok and Saigon.[1]
In mid-1964, she returned to the U.S. for overhaul, then resumed operations in early 1965. Ordered to Vietnam, she alternated between fire support and screening duties, including for the carriers USS Independence and USS Ticonderoga. She returned home in 1966, then operated off San Diego for the remainder of the year before deploying again in 1967, performing search and rescue operations in the Tonkin Gulf and escorting the carrier USS Constellation before returning to the U.S.
How Was Asbestos Used on the USS Lyman K. Swenson?
Like many Navy ships constructed between the 1930s and 1980s, the construction of the USS Lyman K. Swenson made heavy use of asbestos on the orders of the U.S. government. That’s because, before it became known as a carcinogen in the mid-1980s, the material was prized for its insulating and fireproofing properties, which provided critical protection for both the service members and its valuable military assets. Asbestos was both inexpensive and widely available, and while manufacturers were often aware of its health risks, the military was not.
Onboard Navy ships like the USS Lyman K. Swenson, asbestos was used extensively, for various applications, including:
- Engine and Boiler Rooms: These areas saw the heaviest use of asbestos. It insulated equipment and helped prevent the spread of fire.
- Protective Gear: Asbestos was incorporated into sailors’ protective clothing and firefighting equipment to guard against heat and burns.
- Pipe Insulation: Pipes running throughout the ship were insulated with asbestos.
- Other Ship Components: Gaskets, valves, flooring, and other ship elements often contain asbestos.
Who Was Exposed to Asbestos on the USS Lyman K. Swenson?
Navy veterans who served aboard the USS Lyman K. Swenson faced significant risks of asbestos exposure. The toxic material was found throughout the ship, especially in boiler rooms and engine rooms. Any disturbance to asbestos-containing materials could release microscopic fibers into the air, and these fibers were easily inhaled or ingested. Once inside the body, these fibers become embedded in cells and are then extremely difficult to expel. Over time, these needle-like fibers, caught in the mesothelium or lungs, cause damage and scarring and can lead to mutations that grow into the tumors of malignant mesothelioma decades later.
Onboard the USS Lyman K. Swenson, everyone on board was at risk, but certain crew members faced heightened exposure. Most at risk were those who worked directly with asbestos-containing materials, particularly in the confined spaces of the boiler and engine rooms.
Among those impacted by asbestos on the ship was Navy veteran Chloyde Pelton, who was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma after having served onboard the ship from 1959 to 1961. Mr. Pelton served as a pipefitter and shipfitter on the USS Lyman K. Swenson, as well as on the USS Prichett and the USS Frontier. After being diagnosed, he filed a personal injury lawsuit against the asbestos companies responsible for the contaminated equipment on the ships. He blames his illness on having routinely installed and removed gaskets and packing from pipe valves containing asbestos.
Benefits and Compensation Available for USS Lyman K. Swenson Veterans
If you’re a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Lyman K. Swenson, or if you worked on the ship doing repairs or upgrades, you may have been exposed to asbestos. Even if you feel healthy today, you are at risk for asbestos-related illnesses and should both notify your physician of your exposure history and familiarize yourself with the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases so that you can respond quickly should any concerning symptoms arise.
Navy veterans who develop asbestos-related health issues related to their service have the right to seek compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Filing a VA claim can provide valuable benefits, including coverage for medical expenses and access to specialized care at VA medical centers or other facilities focused on asbestos-related conditions. Mesothelioma is classified as 100% disabling, and veterans’ benefits include disability compensation.
Beyond VA assistance, Navy veterans can also pursue compensation from the companies that supplied asbestos materials to the military. These claims can be filed through personal injury lawsuits, potentially resulting in either settlements or jury awards. Many of the asbestos manufacturers that were faced with significant asbestos liabilities were forced to file for bankruptcy and established trust funds that compensate victims of their negligence.
If you were exposed to asbestos during your service on the USS Lyman K. Swenson or in another military circumstance, consulting an experienced mesothelioma lawyer is essential. A knowledgeable attorney can answer your questions, guide you through the legal process, identify the asbestos companies responsible for your exposure, and help with filing for VA benefits and pursuing legal claims.
References
View All References
