The USS Southerland (DD-743) was a Gearing-class destroyer that served through multiple deployments for the U.S. Navy, including the final raids on the Japanese home islands, the Inchon landing in Korea, and numerous combat operations off the coast of Vietnam. Like most other Navy ships constructed during that time, the USS Southerland was built using a significant amount of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials. Many of the veterans who served on the ship and shipyard workers who built or maintained her were diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related illnesses, and others are still at risk.
About the USS Southerland
The USS Southerland was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned during World War II. With a displacement of 2,425 tons, a length of 390’6″, a beam of 41’1″, and a draft of 18’6″, the vessel could achieve speeds of 34.5 knots. Its armament consisted of six 5-inch guns, sixteen 40mm guns, five 21-inch torpedo tubes, two depth charge tracks, six depth charge projectors, and one depth charge projector (hedgehog). The ship had a complement of 367 officers and enlisted personnel.[1]
The USS Southerland played significant roles in three major conflicts. In World War II, she screened carriers during the final raids on the Japanese home islands and participated in shore bombardment missions against targets in Hamamatsu and Kamaishi. During the Korean War, she took part in the Inchon landing, provided fire support for ground troops, screened carriers, and engaged in coastal patrol duties. In Vietnam, the ship screened carriers, acted as plane guard, participated in Operation Market Time, and provided gunfire support for ground forces.[1]
The Southerland was redesignated DDR-743 in March 1949 and later underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) Mark I overhaul in 1963-1964. This update was performed on almost all of the Gearing class destroyers, significantly upgrading their capabilities.[2] During this modernization, the Southerland’s superstructure above the main deck was removed, berthing and messing areas were renovated, engineering spaces were reconditioned, and her ASW capability was enhanced with the addition of the ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) system. Though this work allowed the USS Southerland to more effectively fulfill her new mission, it also exposed shipyard workers to asbestos, as old equipment was removed and new installed. In April 1964, the ship was redesignated back to DD-743.
The USS Southerland earned a single battle star for her World War II service, eight battle stars for her contributions during the Korean War, and ten battle stars for her Vietnam service. These awards are a testament to the ship’s significant contributions during these conflicts.
Construction and Dedication
The USS Southerland was laid down in May 1944 at the Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine. The shipyard was notably productive during World War II when it was responsible for the construction of many of the destroyers used by the Navy. The vessel was named in honor of William Henry Hudson Southerland, who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1872 and served in various positions at sea and ashore during his 37-year career. Appointed Rear Admiral in 1910, he served as President of the Board of Inspection and Survey for Shore Stations until becoming Commander, 2nd Division, Pacific Fleet in March 1911. A year later, he became Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, and in March 1913, he left the fleet to take up duties on the General Board. Admiral Southerland retired on July 10, 1914, and died in Washington, D.C., on January 30, 1933.[1]
The Southerland was launched in October 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Edmund Richardson, daughter of Rear Admiral Southerland, and was commissioned on December 22, 1944, with Commander Russell C. Williams in command.
Service and Deployment History of the USS Southerland
The USS Southerland completed shakedown in the Bermuda area in February 1945 and conducted further exercises into April, then headed for the Pacific. After arriving at Pearl Harbor on May 15, she sailed for Ulithi on May 28 and then moved on to Leyte. On July 1, she sailed with Task Force 38, the Fast Carrier Task Force, for the fleet’s final raids on the Japanese home islands.[1]
From July 10 until the end of World War II, the Southerland screened carriers as their planes struck military and industrial targets on the Tokyo Plain, other parts of Honshu, Hokkaido, and the Inland Sea. She participated in night shore bombardment missions, firing on the Hamamatsu area in southern Honshu and on Kamaishi in northern Honshu.
After the war ended, the Southerland continued to cruise off the Japanese coast. In August, she covered the landing of occupation troops at Huttu Saki and Yokosuka. Following occupation duty and a brief return to the United States in early 1946, she deployed to the western Pacific in February 1947, operating along the China coast.[1]
When the Korean War broke out in June 1950, the Southerland, now redesignated DDR-743, was operating in Hawaiian waters. In July, she sailed west to Okinawa and then Japan. In July, she assumed bombardment and patrol duties off the Korean coast, and in September, she joined Task Force 90 and prepared for the assault landings at Inchon. As part of Fire Support Group 3, she shelled targets on Wolmi Do and in the city of Inchon. After the landings, she provided interdiction, illumination, and support fire.
Throughout the Korean War, the Southerland conducted multiple combat tours, screening carriers, serving as a plane guard, participating in shore bombardments, and engaging enemy shore batteries. During one engagement in 1952, she fought against several shore batteries for 23 minutes, taking four direct hits and suffering eight minor casualties.[1]
Between the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the Southerland alternated duty with the 7th Fleet in the western Pacific with training assignments, 1st Fleet operations, and overhaul periods. Her deployments included SEATO exercises, Taiwan Strait patrols, and relief work. In late December 1957, she joined the USS Princeton and USS Henderson in providing emergency relief to survivors of flooding in Ceylon.
By 1963, the Southerland was sent to Vietnam. This deployment was followed by her 10-month FRAM Mark I overhaul and conversion at Mare Island. From March 1965 until the early 1970s, the ship conducted multiple combat tours off Vietnam, screening carriers, acting as plane guard, participating in Operation Market Time for trawler surveillance, and providing gunfire support for ground forces. In late 1970, following her final Vietnam deployment, she returned to San Diego.[1]
In 1971, the ship underwent another overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, where her main propulsion plant was converted to use navy distillate fuel. In mid-1973, the Southerland participated in Operation “Charger SurfPac 1-73,” during which naval reservists received training in 7th Fleet operations. Through September 1974, she continued to operate along the west coast out of San Diego, conducting training cruises with naval reservists.
How Was Asbestos Used in the USS Southerland
Naval vessels built during the mid-20th century, including the USS Southerland, used extensive amounts of asbestos-containing materials throughout their structures. Though today we know that the substance is highly toxic, it was considered invaluable for the fabrication of warships built between 1930 and 1980. Its use was especially common in World War II-era vessels, as during that time, the Navy required that asbestos be used for hundreds of applications. This was due to the material’s exceptional insulating abilities and fire resistance, as well as the advantages of it being lightweight, readily available, and inexpensive.
All of these attributes made asbestos a favored component for the naval administration. Unfortunately, despite these benefits, the material was later shown to pose serious health hazards. Making matters worse, it was later shown that many of the manufacturers and suppliers that worked with the military had long been aware that the mineral was carcinogenic but chose not to disclose this information. As a result, military authorities continued specifying the material to safeguard both equipment and personnel from fire dangers.
Aboard the USS Southerland, asbestos could be found integrated into numerous systems and components:
- Machinery Compartments: The propulsion sections—particularly engine rooms and boiler facilities—contained the highest concentrations of asbestos materials, where it was used to insulate high-temperature equipment, pipes, and generators.
- Protective Equipment: The ship’s damage control gear, firefighting suits, and heat-resistant gloves all incorporated asbestos fibers to create heat barriers for personnel during emergencies and while working with high-heat surfaces.
- Distribution and Ventilation Systems: The extensive network of steam pipes, water lines, and ventilation ducts throughout the vessel were wrapped with asbestos to maintain temperature control, prevent condensation, and seal against leaks.
- Structural Elements: Various shipboard components including electrical paneling insulation, vibration-dampening materials, gasket seals between pipes, valve packing, and deck coverings contained asbestos compounds.
Health Risks for USS Southerland Crew Members
Crew members and officers serving aboard the USS Southerland encountered substantial asbestos exposure hazards throughout their naval careers. Because the use of asbestos materials was so widespread, everything from routine operating procedures, standard maintenance, combat damage, or even everyday ship vibrations could dislodge microscopic asbestos particles and send them floating in the air. These virtually invisible fibers, when suspended in the confined spaces of the Southerland, created significant dangers, as they could unknowingly be inhaled or swallowed by anybody nearby.
The human respiratory system is unable to expel asbestos particles once they’ve become embedded in the cells lining the lungs or the mesothelium. When these fibers remain in the body, they can eventually trigger inflammation, scarring, and genetic damage that can lead to tumors. These effects all have been tied to potentially life-threatening conditions, many of which don’t begin to show symptoms until 20 to 50 years after exposure.
Although every crew member on the USS Southerland faced some degree of exposure risk, certain duty assignments involved significantly greater hazards. Engineering personnel, boiler technicians, machinist mates, and maintenance specialists were all regularly assigned to work in the confined spaces of machinery compartments, which had minimal ventilation. These were the areas with the most intense exposure to the carcinogenic material, as the work done there, including replacing gaskets or conducting repairs, frequently required disturbing insulation that directly damaged asbestos materials, creating a dust cloud of airborne fibers.
Many legal claims have been filed by former destroyer crew members who were diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. One of these lawsuits was filed by Dale and Janice McMann, a husband and wife who sought compensation after he was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. Mr. McMann blamed his illness on asbestos he was exposed to during the years that he served as a U.S. Navy machinist repairman aboard the USS Jason, the USS Southerland, and at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. In their filing the couple pointed to the devastating health impact of shipboard asbestos exposure, noting that “veterans who operated propulsion equipment, performed maintenance on thermal systems, or routinely cleaned engineering compartments have reported disproportionately high rates of asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and pleural abnormalities decades after their naval service concluded.”[3]
Help for USS Southerland Veterans Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
Former crew members of the USS Southerland, as well as shipyard personnel who took part in her construction, maintenance, or various modernization programs, are at high risk for having been unknowingly exposed to significant amounts of asbestos during their service. If you or someone you love falls into this category and has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related medical condition, several pathways exist for obtaining both healthcare support and financial compensation.
Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions can submit claims for a wide range of benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Approved claims typically result in comprehensive coverage for specialized medical care at VA facilities or designated civilian treatment centers that have expertise in treating asbestos-related diseases. The VA recognizes mesothelioma as a totally disabling condition, which means that veterans whose claims are approved receive the maximum disability benefit rate to offset lost income and medical expenses.
Though veterans are not able to take legal action against the government or the military, they do have the legal right to pursue claims against the companies that manufactured and distributed asbestos products to naval shipbuilding programs despite their knowledge of the associated health dangers. This type of litigation has been pursued ever since asbestos’ dangers became public knowledge, with substantial compensation being awarded by juries and agreed-to in out-of-court settlements. Additionally, many of the asbestos product manufacturers that have been named were forced into bankruptcy, and as part of the resolution of their filings were required to establish dedicated trust funds set up specifically to compensate individuals affected by their products. Though the amounts provided by these funds are generally less than what can be won in court, they also are much more quickly resolved, and the process is less adversarial.
To learn more about their options, former USS Southerland crew members with asbestos-related health complications should contact an asbestos attorney. These professionals know all the ins and outs of military asbestos exposure and your rights. They will take the time to explain the process of filing the various types of claims and to answer all your questions. They can provide crucial guidance on documenting service history, identifying specific asbestos product manufacturers based on your dates of service periods and duty assignments, and navigating complex VA claim requirements. They can also help you file claims against the manufacturers responsible for your illness so you can get the compensation you deserve.
References
View All References
