The USS McKean II (DD-784) served the United States Navy with distinction for more than three decades, from the closing days of World War II through the Cold War, the Korean War, and Vietnam. Like almost all vessels constructed between the 1930s and 1980s, the McKean contained extensive amounts of asbestos. The material contaminated everything from its structure to its supplies. As a result, many former crew members developed mesothelioma and other life-threatening illnesses decades after their service. Their conditions have been directly linked to their exposure to this toxic material during their service.
About the USS McKean II
The USS McKean II (DD-784) was a Gearing-class destroyer that operated from 1945 to 1981, fulfilling missions across multiple theaters. Through the years of her service, her structure evolved and changed, transitioning to a radar picket destroyer (designated DDR-784) in 1952 and later undergoing modernization under the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program.[1]
Like all the Gearing-class destroyers, the McKean II displaced 2,425 tons[2] and stretched 390 feet 6 inches in length, with a beam of 40 feet 11 inches and a draft of 18 feet 6 inches. Her propulsion system was powered by Babcock & Wilcox boilers and General Electric turbines that generated speeds up to 35 knots. The vessel’s complement included 336 personnel, and her armament consisted of six 5-inch guns, sixteen 40mm anti-aircraft guns, ten 20mm anti-aircraft guns, five 21-inch torpedo tubes, two depth charge tracks, and six depth charge projectors.[3]
The USS McKean II was named in honor of Commodore William Wister McKean, a naval officer whose career included service during the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. Laid down in September 1944, at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington, the ship was launched in 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Thomas G. Peyton, and commissioned in June 1945, under the command of Commander William D. Kelly.[1]
USS McKean’s Operational History
Following shakedown exercises along the Pacific coast, USS McKean II departed for the Far East in September 1945. For three months, she supported post-war occupation operations in Japan while maintaining vigilance against the growing Communist influence in Asia.
When North Korean forces invaded South Korea in June 1950, the McKean II joined the Seventh Fleet to counter the threat. She participated in the famed Inchon landing operation, which was credited with reversing the conflict’s initial momentum. While patrolling near the Chinnampo River, she made a significant contribution to naval operations when her crew discovered the first minefield reported during the Korean conflict.[1]
From November 1950 through January 1951, the McKean II conducted Taiwan Strait patrols. After briefly rejoining Task Force 77, she provided shore bombardment and blockade operations with Task Force 95 at Wonsan, Songjin, and Chinjou. She completed her Korean deployment in spring 1951, having earned one battle star for her Korean War service.
She returned to Long Beach in April and operated there for over a year, training naval personnel. In June 1952, she entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard and, after extensive conversion over the following seven months, was converted and reclassified as a radar picket destroyer (DDR-784).
The McKean II returned to the Far East in June 1953, conducting patrols from Japan to the Asian coast. Subsequent deployments took her to the southwest Pacific and Australia, and in 1959, she resumed Taiwan Strait patrols. In 1960, she was deployed to Southeast Asian waters, then spent two years at Long Beach. In January 1962, McKean returned to the Far East to conduct exercises with the carrier Hancock before rejoining the Taiwan Patrol. After returning to Long Beach in July, she deployed again to the Western Pacific in May 1963, operating from the Aleutians to Hong Kong.[1]
Between February and November 1964, McKean underwent another conversion at Long Beach Naval Shipyard: a FRAM I conversion. This comprehensive update gave the ship new weapons systems, electronics, and other features.[3] She was reclassified as DD-784 in December 1963, and after joining Destroyer Squadron 19 in July 1964, she deployed to Southeast Asia in July 1965. She began duty with the Seventh Fleet in the South China Sea in August, and in December, she approached South Vietnam to participate in shore bombardment against North Vietnamese forces.
During a night attack against a South Vietnamese outpost at My Trang in December 1965, the McKean II provided crucial fire support for five hours, successfully repelling the attack. Major General Huang Xauw Lam specifically credited the ship’s naval gunfire as “a major factor in defeating the enemy.” After completing missions in December, the McKean II was sent to Hong Kong and Yokosuka before returning to Long Beach in January 1966. She deployed again in November, beginning search and rescue duty in the Gulf of Tonkin in December. Operating as a gun destroyer and helicopter refueling ship, the McKean II conducted four gunfire support deployments between February and April 1967, firing over 4,000 rounds of 5-inch ammunition. After visiting Australia and New Zealand, she returned to Long Beach in June 1967, undergoing overhaul at Mare Island until November.
In March 1968, the McKean II returned to the Western Pacific, joining Operation Formation Star to pressure North Korea for the USS Pueblo crew’s release and conducting patrols in Asian waters before returning to Long Beach. In November 1971, the ship accompanied the British carrier Eagle to the Indian Ocean before joining the Seventh Fleet. During the Indo-Pakistani War in December, she deployed to the Bay of Bengal with Task Force 74 to safeguard American interests.
The McKean II joined the reserve naval forces in May 1972, operating between California and Hawaii. By the late 1970s, her home port was Seattle. She was struck from the Navy list on September 30, 1980, and decommissioned in October 1981. In 1982, the ship was transferred to Turkey for spare parts and ultimately sunk by a Harpoon missile in July 1987.[1]
Asbestos Hazards Onboard the USS McKean II
Like other Navy ships of her era, the USS McKean II contained hundreds of tons[2] of asbestos materials throughout her structure. While asbestos was present nearly everywhere in the vessel, certain areas are now known to have contained dangerously concentrated levels of contamination from asbestos-containing materials. Engine compartments and propulsion spaces contained asbestos-contaminated insulation around boilers, turbines, pumps, and valves, as well as in supplies including thermal blankets, gaskets, and packing materials. The same was true of the miles of pipes carrying hot water and steam, exhaust systems, and condensers running throughout the ship, which were wrapped or sprayed with asbestos.
Wiring, panels, and other electrical components were frequently made with asbestos for its fire-resistant and insulating properties, and firefighting gear and emergency response equipment often incorporated asbestos for thermal protection. Even the crew’s living spaces were contaminated with asbestos in floor tiles, ceiling materials, wall insulation, and fire-resistant doors. Even if crew members had known of the dangers of asbestos, there was no place onboard where they could have avoided exposure.
Beyond the materials used in the McKean II’s original construction, the 1952 conversion to a radar picket destroyer and the 1964 FRAM modernization involved extensive work on systems containing asbestos. These major overhauls would have disturbed, removed, or replaced numerous asbestos components, creating conditions where dangerous fibers became airborne and were subsequently inhaled by shipyard workers and crew members alike.
Who Was Most in Danger from Asbestos Exposure on the McKean II?
While all crew members serving aboard the USS McKean potentially faced asbestos exposure, the tight, poorly ventilated spaces in key areas of the ship magnified the risk. Asbestos fibers could remain suspended and circulate throughout the vessel, potentially exposing even personnel who did not work directly with asbestos-containing materials. Still, certain roles carried substantially higher risks due to their work environments and responsibilities:
- Enginemen and machinists’ mates operating and maintaining propulsion systems
- Boiler technicians who managed the ship’s steam generation systems
- Damage controlmen who conducted repairs throughout the vessel
- Hull maintenance technicians responsible for structural repairs and modifications
- Pipefitters and plumbers who worked with the extensive piping systems
- Electricians who installed and maintained electrical systems
- Shipyard workers involved in the McKean’s construction, 1952 conversion, 1964 FRAM modernization, and subsequent overhauls
Though people may think of asbestos exposure as a concern of the distant past, the USS McKean II carried sailors through 1980, just four decades ago. In many cases, mesothelioma doesn’t begin to manifest symptoms until fifty or sixty years after exposure, which means that Navy veterans and shipyard workers who seem healthy today may be at risk.
If you served onboard the ship or worked on her upgrades or maintenance, you are strongly encouraged to inform your healthcare provider of your history of asbestos exposure so that they can add it to your medical records and monitor you for concerning symptoms. Early diagnosis of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases makes a significant difference in prognosis.
Health Consequences for USS McKean II Veterans
Asbestos exposure can trigger several devastating health conditions, typically manifesting anywhere from 20 to 50 years after exposure. This extended latency period means that many USS McKean veterans may only recently have developed symptoms related to their service decades ago, and others may yet be diagnosed.
Asbestos-related conditions commonly affecting naval veterans include:
- Mesothelioma: An aggressive, fatal form of cancer that affects the pleura (lung lining), peritoneum (abdominal lining), or pericardium (heart lining). It is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
- Asbestosis: A progressive, irreversible lung disease characterized by scarring of lung tissue, which causes severe breathing difficulties and reduced oxygen transfer.
- Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, particularly when combined with smoking.
- Pleural Disorders: Non-cancerous conditions affecting the lung lining, including plaques, thickening, and effusions, which can impair respiratory function.
- Other Malignancies: Research has linked asbestos exposure to cancers of the larynx, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.
Asbestos-related conditions often result in astronomical medical expenses, diminished quality of life, and premature death for affected veterans and their families.
Help for Veterans with Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos-Related Illnesses
U.S. Navy veterans who served aboard the USS McKean II or any other asbestos-containing vessel and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses have three paths to compensation.
VA Benefits Claims
The Department of Veterans Affairs has formally recognized the link between military service and asbestos exposure. Veterans who can prove the link between their service and their disease are eligible for:
- Disability compensation (with mesothelioma typically qualifying for a 100% disability rating)
- Medical care from physicians experienced in treating asbestos diseases, either at VA treatment centers or specialized cancer centers.
- Support services, including home healthcare and medical equipment
To qualify, veterans must be able to prove the connection between their duties and current illness through their service records, medical records, and other documentation.
Legal Claims
Veterans and their surviving family members can’t pursue litigation against the military, but they can file civil suits against the companies responsible for their exposure to the asbestos products used in their naval vessels. Options include:
- Personal injury lawsuits for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering
- Wrongful death actions for families who have lost loved ones
- Many of these lawsuits are resolved in out-of-court settlements that avoid the time and stress of a trial.
Importantly, pursuing legal action does not impact your eligibility for VA benefits: Veterans can pursue multiple compensation paths at the same time.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Many asbestos product manufacturers were driven into bankruptcy after having to pay millions of dollars to victims of exposure to their products. As part of the process, they were required to establish bankruptcy trust funds to compensate victims diagnosed after the formation of the trust. These trusts collectively manage tens of billions of dollars, even if the companies no longer exist, and veterans can file claims against them. To qualify, you’ll need:
- Documentation of circumstances where they were exposed to the individual company’s products
- Medical diagnosis of an asbestos-related condition
All of these processes are complex and can be especially daunting while also navigating the emotional and physical aspects of a mesothelioma diagnosis. An experienced asbestos attorney can help identify responsible companies, collect all necessary documentation, submit paperwork according to filing deadlines, and maximize the compensation you receive.
References
View All References
