The USS Haynsworth (DD-700) was an Allen M. Sumner class destroyer launched in 1944. It served with distinction from World War II through the Korean War and later transitioned to sailing as a Naval Reserve training vessel. Like many naval vessels constructed between the 1930s and 1980s, the Haynsworth’s construction incorporated asbestos – a practice that would later be linked to devastating health consequences. Many Navy veterans and shipyard workers who served aboard or maintained the vessel developed serious illnesses including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.
About the USS Haynsworth (DD-700)
The USS Haynsworth DD-700 was one of many military ships built by what was known as the country’s most effective World War II shipbuilder – the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey. Laid down in December of 1943 and launched in April 1944, the ship was built at a time when shipyards all over the country were ordered to use asbestos in hundreds of shipboard applications.
The ship was sponsored by the widow of Comdr. William McCall Haynsworth, Jr. Haynsworth was killed when the ship he was commanding collided with a fleet oiler in dense fog off the coast of Nova Scotia in 1942. It was commissioned in June of 1944 under the command of Comdr. Robert Brodie, Jr.[1]
The USS Haynsworth exemplified the capabilities of Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers, with a substantial operational range of 6,500 nautical miles while maintaining speeds of 34 knots. At 376 feet in length and displacing 3,218 tons when fully loaded, the vessel carried a crew of 336 men. Its propulsion system centered on two General Electric geared steam turbines and accompanying boilers that harbored a hidden danger. The boilers, along with numerous other mechanical components, contained extensive asbestos materials in their parts, insulation, gaskets, and valves. This widespread use of asbestos throughout the engineering spaces meant that sailors working in the engine and boiler rooms faced particularly high risks of harmful asbestos exposure during their service.
The USS Haynsworth’s Service
After completing her Caribbean shakedown cruise, the USS Haynsworth’s first mission was a prestigious one: she escorted the Queen Mary as it carried Prime Minister Winston Churchill from New York to England. After handing him off to British escort vessels, she returned to New York before departing through the Panama Canal Zone and San Pedro for Pearl Harbor.[1]
From Pearl Harbor, the Haynsworth sailed for Ulithi, where it would play a crucial role in the final operations against Japan. For the next three months, she operated as part of the screening force for Vice Admiral J. S. McCain’s Fast Carrier Task Force, serving under both the 3rd and 5th Fleets, supporting carrier-based air strikes against key Japanese targets along the Chinese coast and Formosa (modern-day Taiwan) and disrupting enemy shipping during Allied landings in early 1945.[1]
The USS Haynsworth then participated in a major offensive against Japanese military and industrial targets in the Tokyo region that targeted the airfields surrounding Tokyo Bay. The mission neutralized most of its designated targets, with the Haynsworth demonstrating her combat effectiveness by detecting and destroying three Japanese picket boats that had used heavy fog as cover. The operation caused significant damage to aircraft manufacturing facilities and claimed numerous vessels in Tokyo Bay, with the most notable victory being the sinking of the 10,600-ton Yamashiro Maru.[1]
As the war in the Pacific drew to a close, the Haynsworth participated in intensified strikes against the Japanese homeland. The task force it was a part of launched air attacks on airfields and vessels in the Inland Sea, destroying what was left of Japan’s air and naval forces. She then moved on to support the Okinawa landings, distinguishing herself again by fending off numerous Japanese air attacks against the Allied fleet. Her service was only interrupted when she sustained damage from a kamikaze strike, necessitating her withdrawal to Mare Island for repairs.[1]
After the war, the newly repaired Haynsworth transitioned to a role as a training vessel at Treasure Island, California, and Pearl Harbor, then was sent to Boston as part of the Reserve Fleet. She returned to active duty in March 1947, conducting training cruises for reserve personnel in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean from Louisiana until 1949.
As the Korean War escalated, the Haynsworth was recommissioned, and after completing training and operations along the East Coast and Caribbean in 1950, she deployed to the Mediterranean on September 3rd, 1951. She later embarked on a round-the-world voyage from Norfolk on November 2nd, 1953 on what was described as a peacekeeping mission in the region. Upon returning to Norfolk, Virginia in 1954, she resumed her duties supporting the 6th Fleet.[1]
Following the Suez Crisis in 1958, the Haynsworth joined other Navy vessels stationed in the eastern Mediterranean, assisting with the evacuation of U.S. citizens from Egypt and maintaining readiness for potential conflicts. Between 1956 and 1960, she completed five Mediterranean deployments, fulfilling the Navy’s peacekeeping objectives and monitoring global trouble spots. In 1959, she participated in the historic “Operation Inland Seas,” marking the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway with a journey up the river to Montreal.[1]
In later years, the Haynsworth delivered emergency food rations in Africa, acted as a rescue ship for the take-off of the Mercury-Atlas space mission, and then sailed to the Caribbean to participate in the naval quarantine of Cuba in 1962. In 1963 she deployed to the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, then underwent overhaul to begin her final duty as a Naval Reserve training ship in 1964. In her final years, the Haynsworth operated out of Galveston, providing onboard training facilities for Naval Reservists. She was decommissioned in 1970 and sold to Taiwan.[2]
How Was Asbestos Used on the USS Haynsworth?
While today we know that asbestos exposure causes cancer, in the years when the Haynsworth was built, the mineral was highly valued for its strength, durability, and resistance to heat and fire. It was a popular choice for various applications, particularly for the U.S. military in the years surrounding World War II. The War Department relied heavily on asbestos, incorporating it extensively into the construction of ships, military housing, buildings, and other assets. As the nation ordered the production of hundreds of Navy vessels, many asbestos manufacturers were already aware of the hazards of asbestos but chose to keep its dangers quiet and earn profits by supplying the affordable, easily accessible material to meet military demands.
Like many Navy ships built by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock, the USS Haynsworth was heavily contaminated with asbestos. The carcinogen was used in insulation throughout its walls and ceilings as well as hundreds of other ship components, including gaskets, packings, fireproofing material, and ropes. The most common sources of asbestos exposure onboard the ship included:
- Boilers
- Gaskets
- Packing
- Insulation
- Pipe coverings
- Pumps
- Turbines
- Fireproofing material
- Flooring
- Adhesives
- Ropes and fabrics
- Fire protection gear
Who Was at Most Risk for Asbestos Exposure Onboard the USS Haynsworth?
The effects of asbestos exposure can be unpredictable. Some people who’ve experienced heavy exposure never develop health issues, while others with only occasional or secondary exposure end up being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma or other serious diseases.
Those who faced the highest risk onboard the Haynsworth worked in the ship’s engine rooms and boiler rooms, where asbestos use was most concentrated, but no level of asbestos exposure is considered safe, meaning that anyone who served aboard or was involved in the construction, repair, or maintenance of the Haynsworth was at risk.
- In 2015, A St. Louis jury awarded Jeanette Poage, the widow of a Navy veteran exposed to asbestos on the Haynsworth, $11.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages. James Poage died in 2013 of malignant mesothelioma after serving onboard the ship from 1954 to 1958. He performed routine repair work on gaskets and valves manufactured by John Crane, Co. that contained asbestos.[3] The verdict was later upheld by the Missouri state Supreme Court.
- In 2009, the Department of Veterans Affairs approved service-related disability compensation to a Navy veteran who had served on active duty from January 1952 to December 1955. The veteran was diagnosed with asbestosis, and later with lung cancer, which he blamed on exposure to asbestos during his service onboard the USS Ault after it had collided with the USS Haynsworth.[4]
Compensation for Those Exposed to Asbestos on the USS Haynsworth
If you are a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Haynsworth (DD-700), it is very likely that you were exposed to asbestos during your time onboard the ship. Even if you feel healthy, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms of malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. Informing your physician or healthcare provider about your history of asbestos exposure is crucial—this knowledge allows them to monitor your health more closely, detect potential issues earlier, and begin treatment as soon as possible.
If you’ve been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease related to your service, you may be eligible for benefits through the Veterans Administration (VA). The VA provides various forms of support and compensation for Navy veterans affected by asbestos exposure, including:
- Specialized Medical Care: Veterans with asbestos-related diseases can receive free treatment at VA medical centers, including facilities specializing in malignant mesothelioma care. In some cases, approval may also be granted for treatment at non-VA specialty centers.
- Disability Compensation: The VA assigns mesothelioma a 100% disability rating. This means that veterans diagnosed with this rare asbestos-related disease who can prove exposure during their service are entitled to the highest level of disability compensation.
An experienced asbestos attorney can both guide you through the process of applying for VA benefits and inform you of other legal options for compensation that you may be eligible for. While veterans can’t sue the government for asbestos exposure, they can take legal action against the asbestos manufacturers that knowingly prioritized their profits over the safety of those using their products.
Your options may include filing a personal injury lawsuit against these companies, which often results in significant settlement agreements before reaching trial. Additionally, you may be eligible to file a claim against some of the asbestos trust funds that bankrupt asbestos companies were required to set up so that their victims could receive financial justice.
To learn more about your rights, the legal process, and getting help pursuing compensation for the harm you’ve suffered, reach out to an experienced mesothelioma attorney today.
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