The USS Lloyd Thomas (DD/DDE-764) was built during the era when asbestos was an integral part of naval vessels, from their supplies to their systems and structures. Today, we know that asbestos is carcinogenic, and thousands of crew members on ships like the USS Lloyd Thomas have been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other serious respiratory disorders. Many have died, while countless others remain at risk.
About the USS Lloyd Thomas
The USS Lloyd Thomas was a Gearing-class destroyer that sailed for the U.S. Navy from 1947 to 1972. Throughout those 25 years, the ship traversed the globe, participated in critical NATO exercises, monitored Mediterranean tensions, and eventually was involved in combat during the Vietnam conflict. When not deployed on international missions, she conducted vital training exercises and fleet maneuvers from her East Coast bases at Newport and Norfolk.[1]
As a Gearing class destroyer, the USS Lloyd Thomas displaced 2,425 long tons and stretched 390 feet 9 inches from bow to stern, with a 41-foot beam and 18-foot 6-inch draft. Her propulsion systems, powered by Babcock and Wilcox boilers and General Electric steam turbines, delivered 35-knot speeds that facilitated a rapid response to emerging threats.[2]
From the time of her construction through multiple updates, the ship’s armament included six 5-inch/38 caliber guns, twelve 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft batteries, eleven 20mm Oerlikon cannons, ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, and comprehensive anti-submarine warfare systems including depth charge projectors and tracks. She accommodated 336 officers and enlisted personnel, and through the years she carried thousands of naval service members.[2]
About the Gearing Class Destroyers
Gearing-class destroyers like the USS Lloyd Thomas were the last American destroyers designed during World War II. The ships were the result of a series of improvements over previous classes, particularly the Fletcher and Allen M. Sumner classes. Because they were commissioned between 1945 and 1946, very few of the ships of this class served in World War II, but they served the Navy for decades, with some remaining in service for allied navies into the 21st century.
Comparing the Gearing destroyers to the immediate predecessor class, the Allen M. Sumners, the Gearings kept the dual-purpose 5-inch guns, improved anti-aircraft weaponry, and dual rudders that gave them better maneuverability. The biggest design change was an extension of the hull — the gearings were 14 feet longer, which increased fuel capacity and range. This seemingly minor modification addressed a major shortcoming in earlier destroyers, allowing the Gearings to accompany fast carrier task forces on long-distance trips to the Pacific Theater without having to refuel.[2]
Originally built for anti-air and surface combat, the Gearings were adapted over time to extend their useful life and meet changing times and threats, especially during the Cold War. Starting in the 1950s and continuing into the 1960s, many were upgraded under the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program, which improved anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities in response to the growing Soviet submarine threat. Old torpedo tubes and gun mounts were replaced with advanced ASW systems and equipped with the DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) system, as well as updated sonar and radar suites. Improvements were also made to the crews’ living quarters.[2]
Construction Chronology and Modernization Efforts for the USS Lloyd Thomas
Bethlehem Steel Corporation’s Shipbuilding Division was responsible for the original construction of the USS Lloyd Thomas. The ship was built at the shipyard’s San Francisco location in March 1944 and was launched in October 1945. The ship underwent significant modernization throughout her service life. In March 1950, she was re-outfitted for a specialized anti-submarine warfare focus, and naval authorities redesignated her as DDE-764. In 1961, she entered the New York Naval Shipyard for comprehensive Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM II) reconfiguration. The Navy restored her original destroyer designation as DD-764 in 1962.[1]
USS Lloyd Thomas Deployment History and Combat Operations
Bethlehem Steel Corporation’s Shipbuilding Division was responsible for the construction of the USS Lloyd Thomas. The ship was built at the shipyard’s San Francisco location in March 1944 and was launched in October 1945. She was named for Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Lloyd Thomas, who piloted a Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bomber during the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Mrs. Lloyd Thomas, the pilot’s widow, served as the vessel’s official sponsor during christening ceremonies.[1]
Following initial shakedown exercises off San Diego and Hawaiian training maneuvers, the USS Lloyd Thomas embarked on a circumnavigation of the globe in January 1948. Upon her return, she conducted reserve training operations through 1948 before undergoing hunter-killer conversion in 1949 and transferring to the Atlantic Fleet, homed at Newport.
The early 1950s saw the destroyer engaging in Caribbean anti-submarine exercises and Mediterranean deployments supporting Sixth Fleet operations. In 1952, she participated in Operation Mainbrace, a NATO exercise along Denmark’s coastline. The following year she was involved in more NATO integration exercises in the Mediterranean and in January 1957, she left with Destroyer Division 242 for South American operations. While there, she engaged with naval forces from Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile, strengthening defense relationships by sharing anti-submarine warfare techniques.[1]
The Lloyd Thomas participated in many notable operations throughout her career, including extensive NATO exercises, Operation Springboard in the Caribbean (1958), midshipman training cruises to Quebec (1959), and Operation Fairgame II, a joint Franco-American amphibious exercise in the Mediterranean (1964). From October to November 1964, she escorted 28,000 Marines from Virginia to Spain during Operation Steel Pike I, which was recognized as the largest peacetime amphibious maneuver ever conducted. The destroyer also supported space program activities, serving as plane guard for USS Wasp during Gemini II mission recovery operations in November 1966.
The vessel experienced combat during the Vietnam War. In April 1972, the Lloyd Thomas was involved in the Battle of Đồng Hới, when she and three other American warships conducted naval strikes against North Vietnamese coastal artillery positions below the Demilitarized Zone. The enemy forces launched attacks using artillery, MiG aircraft, and automatic weapons fire, and the Lloyd Thomas suffered a direct artillery hit above the waterline, resulting in minor injuries to three crew members. The ship maintained her position on the firing line despite the damage.[1]
Asbestos Use on the USS Lloyd Thomas
Requiring the use of asbestos in ship construction was standard naval practice from the 1930s and 1970s, and the USS Lloyd Thomas was no exception. Asbestos materials were used from the time she was commissioned through all of her many updates and outfitting phases. The Navy specified asbestos because of its exceptional thermal insulation qualities, fire retardant properties, chemical resistance, and superior strength-to-weight characteristics. While the Navy chose the material for the protections it offered, they were unaware that it was hazardous, or that manufacturers had suppressed emerging evidence regarding its health risks.
Asbestos could be found in virtually every area of the Lloyd Thomas, with particularly heavy concentrations in critical heat-generating areas including:
- Power Generation Systems: These spaces contained extensive asbestos insulation that protected boilers https://mesothelioma.net/mesothelioma-and-veterans/, turbines, pumps, condensers, and associated high-temperature equipment essential for propulsion.
- Emergency Equipment: Fire-protective clothing, gloves, blankets, and firefighting gear incorporated asbestos fibers due to their heat-resistant properties.
- Piping System: The extensive network of steam pipes, exhaust ducting, and utility outlets throughout the vessel all relied on asbestos insulation to retain heat and prevent crew injuries.
- Infrastructure Components: Many of the ship’s systems hid asbestos in gaskets, brake linings, valve packing, electrical panels, insulation boards, deck tiles, and ceiling materials.
Who Was Affected by Asbestos on the USS Lloyd Thomas
Naval personnel assigned to the USS Lloyd Thomas may have thought that the greatest danger they encountered was from enemy fire, but on many ships, more people suffered health hazards from asbestos exposure than through combat. The crew of the USS Lloyd Thomas experienced asbestos exposure routinely, as the toxic mineral circulated from high-concentration areas through the ship’s ventilation systems. Asbestos fibers became airborne during maintenance, combat damage, or routine wear that disturbed the contaminated materials.
When microscopic asbestos fibers enter the body through inhalation or ingestion, they penetrate the cells of the lining structures of the pleural and peritoneal cavities. Because they remain in place, a progressive inflammatory response can begin, leading to cellular damage and potential genetic mutations. These processes frequently don’t show symptoms for decades, then suddenly manifest as serious health conditions 20 to 50 years after exposure in the form of pleural mesothelioma, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and other serious respiratory disorders.
Although all crew members aboard the USS Lloyd Thomas faced some risk of exposure, certain job responsibilities were more dangerous than others. All personnel who worked near the propulsion systems or who handled repairs and maintenance experienced concentrated exposures, particularly when their work placed them in inadequately ventilated spaces with deteriorating asbestos materials.
Help for USS Lloyd Thomas Crew Members Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
Former crew members of the USS Lloyd Thomas, as well as shipyard personnel involved in her construction, conversion, overhaul, and repair, may have suffered significant asbestos exposure related to their service, and this can lead to mesothelioma and other medical conditions developing decades after service periods. Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses qualify for specialized compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has programs designed specifically to address service-connected disabilities.
For veterans who successfully navigate the VA claims process, the agency provides comprehensive benefits including specialized medical treatment at either VA healthcare facilities or authorized civilian treatment centers with expertise in asbestos-related disease management. VA disability determinations typically classify mesothelioma and similar conditions at a 100% disability rating, maximizing available compensation provisions for affected veterans and eligible dependents.
Beyond the benefits available through government programs, Navy veterans who were exposed to asbestos on the USS Lloyd Thomas may be eligible to pursue compensation directly from the companies that manufactured and distributed asbestos products throughout the Navy’s supply chain. Filing a lawsuit can result in substantial financial settlements from companies that prefer to avoid litigation, and juries hearing how asbestos companies knowingly supplied dangerous materials without appropriate warnings often assign significant damages awards. Additionally, many of the asbestos manufacturers that faced the highest liabilities filed for bankruptcy, and as part of the process established court-mandated bankruptcy trust funds specifically designated to compensate exposure victims.
If you are a veteran who served on the USS Lloyd Thomas and you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, seeking assistance from an experienced asbestos attorney will provide you with many of the answers you need. These legal professionals specialize in asbestos litigation. They will assess your service and occupational history, identify the different times you were exposed to the toxic mineral, determine which of the manufacturers and distributors were part of your exposure, and give you a comprehensive evaluation of the options available to you. They can also help you with VA benefits applications to ensure you get the benefits you’re entitled to for your service-related health conditions.
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