The USS Rowan (DD-782) was a Gearing-class destroyer that served in the United States Navy for nearly three decades. From the time she was commissioned in 1945 through her decommissioning in 1973, the Rowan participated in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Like most Navy ships built at the time, the Rowan contained significant amounts of asbestos. Decades later, many veterans who served aboard her have developed asbestos-related illnesses, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other respiratory conditions.
About the USS Rowan
The USS Rowan was a destroyer designated DD-782 that served in the U.S. Navy between 1945 and 1975. She was part of the Gearing class, a series of destroyers designed for fleet escort duties. The ships protected larger vessels and took part in offensive operations.[1]
The ship was named after Vice Admiral Stephen Clegg Rowan, a distinguished naval officer who served during both the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. Vice Admiral Rowan was recognized for his bravery, leadership, and unwavering dedication to duty.[2]
Gearing-Class Destroyers and Asbestos
Gearing-class destroyers like the USS Rowan were designed to fulfill multiple combat roles. As was true of all of the ships in her class, the Rowan displaced 3,460 tons fully loaded and measured 391 feet in length, with a beam of 41 feet and a draft of 14.3 feet. They were propelled by Babcock and Wilcox boilers and General Electric turbines, and could reach speeds of up to 37 knots and typically carried a complement of 11 officers and 325 enlisted personnel. These measurements and statistics represented an improvement over the previous class of destroyers, the Allen M. Sumner destroyers: By adding 14 feet of length to the hull, the Gearing class was able to carry more fuel, thus extending its range and increasing the speed it could achieve.[1]
Both because of their high-temperature components and machinery and the special risks represented by fire at sea, all of the vessels that the Navy sent into battle needed extensive insulation. When the Rowan was built in the 1940s, asbestos was the material that the military counted on for this purpose. Valued for its exceptional resistance to heat, fire, and chemical corrosion, as well as its relatively low cost, availability, and versatility, asbestos was used in hundreds of components and areas throughout ships like the Rowan.
This extensive use of asbestos offered protection for personnel and military assets at the moment, but also created the environments that would later lead to countless illnesses and deaths. Decades after their service, crew members who were regularly exposed to this hazardous substance began developing serious respiratory conditions and cancers linked to their service aboard these ships.
Construction and Commissioning
The USS Rowan (DD-782) was laid down in March 1944 by the Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington. She was launched in December 1944 after being sponsored by Mrs. David S. Folsom, the great-grandniece of Vice Admiral Rowan. She was commissioned on March 31, 1945, with Commander W.A. Dunn in command.[2]
As a Gearing-class destroyer, the USS Rowan featured some of the most advanced technologies of her time, including sophisticated radar systems that enhanced her ability to detect both surface vessels and aircraft. Her sonar systems significantly improved the crew’s submarine detection.[1]
The Rowan’s armament consisted of six 5-inch/38 caliber guns mounted in three dual turrets, twelve 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns, eleven 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns, ten torpedo tubes for use against enemy vessels, and depth charge racks for anti-submarine warfare. This enabled her to engage enemy aircraft and surface vessels while protecting other ships within her task force.
Operational History
After completing shakedown off Southern California in 1945, the USS Rowan departed Seattle for Hawaii and then continued to Okinawa. Arriving after Japan’s surrender, she moved on to Japan, where she supported occupation forces into December. At the end of December, she returned to Okinawa, and in January 1946, continued to San Diego, where she was immobilized until February 1947. After resuming operations along the west coast and in Hawaiian waters, she deployed to the western Pacific (WestPac) for operations in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean waters.[2]
In 1950, after the North Korean Army crossed the 38th Parallel into the Republic of Korea, the Rowan sailed for Japan, then commenced operations off the coast of Korea. In September, she participated in her first support mission for a wartime amphibious landing, arriving off Inchon with Task Force 90 and providing support for the Marines who went ashore. She remained in the area until after Allied forces had pushed back across the 38th Parallel, then left Inchon for duties off the Korean east coast. Rowan remained in the Wonsan area until February 1951, then sailed for home.
After spending time conducting local and Hawaiian training assignments, Rowan again headed for Korea. In February, she took a direct hit from a North Korean shore battery, suffering damage to a 40mm gun, her radar, and superstructure. In June, she continued to provide gunfire support and to act as plane guard and escort for the carriers. In late June, she steamed south to serve on the Taiwan Patrol Force, and in July, she sailed back to San Diego.[2]
Her third Korean tour was in April 1953. She operated off Korea through the spring and shifted to Taiwan patrol duty in July, then returned to Korea in August and through September. In October, she departed for California.
After her Korean service, Rowan remained in active service through the 1950s and 1960s, rotating between assignments in the western Pacific and off the west coasts of the Americas and in the Hawaiian area. She also supported scientific experiments, recovering a NERV capsule containing information on Earth’s atmosphere and participating in Operation “Dommie” nuclear tests in the Christmas Island area. In 1963, Rowan departed San Diego for a FRAM (Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization) I conversion at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. She returned to California a year later with improved living spaces, up-to-date communications, and ASROC and DASH weapons systems.[2]
While important for maintaining the ship’s combat effectiveness, these renovations involved work on systems and components containing asbestos. Workers removing, replacing, or modifying these materials would have generated significant amounts of asbestos dust, creating hazardous conditions for both shipyard workers and crew members.
In January 1965, Rowan deployed again to WestPac, this time to Vietnam, where she provided gunfire support for units of the Vietnamese Navy Junk Force and Allied ground forces. In August, she returned to San Diego, but in May 1966 was back off the South Vietnamese coast to support Vietnamese troops. Later adding plane guard duty to her activities, she continued Vietnamese operations until August, when she departed for San Diego and more “routine” duties, serving as gunnery and ASW School Ship at San Diego. Most of 1967 was spent preparing for or undergoing overhaul, but in the fall, she resumed her deployments in support of ground operations in Vietnam. After operations in the Sea of Japan in 1969, she again served off Vietnam, then returned to San Diego for local operations.
Late in January 1970, she entered the drydock at Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard for overhaul. She returned to normal operations off the coast of southern California from June until September, then was redeployed to the western Pacific, where she frequently operated along the Vietnamese coast. She didn’t return to the United States until March of 1971, when upon arrival in San Diego, she resumed operations off the west coast until October, when she was again deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, and, ultimately, the coast of Vietnam through 1973.[2]
Throughout her Vietnam service, the Rowan continued to receive maintenance and repairs that would have disturbed asbestos materials, creating ongoing exposure risks for her crew.
The ship was decommissioned in December 1975 and struck from the Navy list in January 1976. She was later transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan), but while under tow, she ran aground. She was written off as a total loss and later salvaged for parts.
Asbestos Use on the USS Rowan
Naval vessels like the USS Rowan were built and equipped using asbestos in many areas due to its exceptional insulating properties, fire resistance, and durability. Asbestos was used constantly in ship construction between the 1930s and 1970s, and the Rowan was a prime example of a vessel that was both built using asbestos and further fortified with it during renovations. These actions drove microscopic fibers of asbestos into the air to be inhaled, posing severe health risks that were not fully understood by the Navy or acknowledged by asbestos manufacturers at the time.
The most significant concentrations of asbestos-containing materials could be found in:
- Engineering spaces: Engine rooms contained asbestos insulation around boilers, turbines, pumps, and valves. Thermal insulation blankets, gaskets, and packing materials used in those areas also contained high amounts of asbestos.
- Propulsion systems: The Rowan’s propulsion machinery, including steam lines, exhaust systems, and condensers, used heat-resistant insulation that was largely made with asbestos.
- Boiler rooms: Boiler rooms contained insulation around and within the boilers themselves, as well as on associated piping, valves, and pumps.
- Piping systems: Miles of pipes throughout the vessel were wrapped in asbestos insulation, particularly those carrying steam or hot water.
- Electrical systems: Electrical wiring, panels, and components often contained asbestos for its fire-resistant and insulating properties.
- Crew quarters and common areas: Even living spaces contained asbestos in floor tiles, ceiling materials, wall insulation, and fireproof doors.
- Firefighting equipment: The protective gear worn by damage control teams and firefighting crews often contained asbestos for heat and flame protection.
Beyond the time the Rowan sailed, during her FRAM modernization and other maintenance periods, many of these asbestos-containing materials would have been disturbed, removed, or replaced, creating situations where dangerous fibers could become airborne and subsequently inhaled by workers and crew members.
Who Was at Greatest Risk of Asbestos Exposure Aboard the USS Rowan?
While all crew members aboard the USS Rowan faced potential asbestos exposure, certain job responsibilities put crew members at substantially higher risk. These included:
- Machinist’s Mates
- Boiler Technicians
- Hull Maintenance Technicians
- Damage Control Personnel
- Pipefitters
- Electricians
- Shipyard Workers
The environment onboard the ship was tight and poorly ventilated, which exacerbated exposure risks, and because asbestos fibers remain suspended in the air for extended periods, they were often carried on crew members’ hair, clothing, and skin throughout the ship, where they would circulate further. As a result, even personnel who didn’t work directly with the carcinogenic material were exposed.
Health Implications for USS Rowan Veterans
Asbestos exposure can lead to serious and often fatal health conditions, with symptoms typically not manifesting until 20 to 50 years later. This delayed onset means that many USS Rowan veterans have only recently begun experiencing health issues related to their service decades ago, and others may still be diagnosed in the future.
Common asbestos-related conditions affecting Navy veterans include:
- Mesothelioma
- Asbestosis
- Lung Cancer
- Pleural Plaques and Thickening
- Other Cancers
The development of these conditions can be devastating for veterans and their families, resulting in significant medical expenses, reduced quality of life, and premature death.
Compensation and Support Options for Veterans Who Served on the USS Rowan
Veterans who served on the USS Rowan and who developed asbestos-related illnesses have several options available for compensation and support. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes the risks that asbestos exposure during service posed, and as a result, eligible veterans may qualify for disability compensation; specialized medical care at one of the VA’s comprehensive cancer centers or non-agency specialized treatment centers across the country; and additional support services including home healthcare, adaptive equipment, and assistance for family caregivers. Mesothelioma typically qualifies for a 100% disability rating, providing the maximum benefit amount.
To be eligible for these benefits, veterans need to show that their condition is connected to asbestos exposure during military service. This process can be complex, often requiring detailed documentation of service history, work responsibilities, and medical evidence connecting the illness to asbestos exposure.
Another option for compensation for military veterans is through asbestos trust funds designated for compensating asbestos victims by bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos products. These funds collectively contain billions of dollars, and like the VA benefits claims, they too require documentation of asbestos exposure to their product and medical evidence of an asbestos-related diagnosis.
Finally, veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma can also pursue legal claims against the companies that manufactured, distributed, or installed asbestos-containing products aboard naval vessels through personal injury lawsuits. A successful lawsuit can provide compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Similarly, wrongful death claims for loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and other damages can be filed by family members who’ve lost a loved one to an asbestos-related illness.
The process of pursuing any of these forms of compensation can be a challenge. Veterans and their family members benefit from working with asbestos attorneys experienced in litigation, trust fund claims, and VA claims.
A mesothelioma lawyer can help identify all potentially responsible asbestos manufacturers, assess your eligibility across each of these compensation programs, document the connection between your naval service and your asbestos exposure, and gather essential medical evidence supporting the claim. They can also help you navigate the complex filing procedures and deadlines and represent your interests in negotiations and court proceedings.
By working with knowledgeable advocates, USS Rowan veterans can maximize their chances of receiving fair compensation and minimizing the stress associated with the complicated process.
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