The USS Bigelow (DD-942) was a Naval destroyer built when America was engaged in the Cold War and asbestos was still in common use in everything from shipbuilding to construction. What we know today as a toxic material was, at the time, an integral part of electrical and piping systems, structural elements, and operational equipment. Though the material undoubtedly added strength and fire resistance, it also put tens of thousands of Navy veterans, including the former crew members of the Bigelow, at risk for pleural mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other severe respiratory conditions.
The Bigelow’s Namesake
The USS Bigelow honored the memory of Elmer Charles Bigelow, a Watertender Second Class who died in a shipboard fire while working to save others. Bigelow was serving aboard the destroyer USS Fletcher (DD-445) in the Philippines when a fire broke out in the ship’s magazine compartment.
With the entire ship and crew in danger, Bigelow entered the engulfed compartment to extinguish the fire. His actions prevented a catastrophic explosion, but he was killed in the process. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration for valor.[1]
About the USS Bigelow
The USS Bigelow was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer. She served the U.S. Navy from 1957 to 1982, participating in Cold War operations, serving as a flagship for NATO forces, conducting combat missions in Vietnam, and supporting space program recovery operations. She also engaged in vital training exercises and diplomatic missions.
The USS Bigelow displaced 2,800 tons and measured 407 feet in length, with a 45-foot beam. Her advanced high-pressure steam propulsion systems, powered by Foster-Wheeler boilers and General Electric turbines generating 70,000 shaft horsepower, delivered speeds exceeding 32 knots with an operational range of 4,500 nautical miles at 20 knots. This combination of speed and endurance made her ideally suited for fast carrier escort duties and independent operations.[2]
The Bigelow’s armament featured three advanced 5-inch/54 caliber dual-purpose guns that provided superior range and rate of fire compared to previous destroyer weapons systems. Carrying a complement of 15 officers and 218 enlisted personnel for 25 years, thousands of naval personnel served aboard this ship, many of whom would subsequently face serious health complications from asbestos exposure.
About the Forrest Sherman Class Destroyers
The 18 Forrest Sherman-class destroyers that were manufactured represented a significant advancement in post-World War II naval design. They were larger than the destroyers that came before, and were built with several innovations that would influence decades of subsequent naval construction. The Forrest Shermans were the first to use 1,200-pound steam plants in the U.S. fleet; these lightweight, high-pressure propulsion systems would later be used in aircraft carriers, guided missile destroyers, cruisers, and frigates.[2]
The Forrest Sherman-class destroyers were exceptionally versatile. Four of the original ships were converted to guided missile destroyers, and eight others received enhanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The ships earned stellar reputations for superior abilities and anti-surface warfare.
Operational History of the USS Bigelow
Construction and Cold War Missions
Bath Iron Works Corporation built the USS Bigelow at their Bath, Maine facility, with Mrs. Verna B. Perry, mother of the ship’s namesake, serving as sponsor during launching ceremonies. The destroyer was commissioned in November 1957 and, following her shakedown cruise, became the flagship of the newly established South Atlantic Forces in September 1958.[1]
In her initial role, the USS Bigelow conducted diplomatic missions. She demonstrated American naval presence by visiting fifteen African ports, then was sent on her first Mediterranean deployment in March 1959. This was followed by an extensive overhaul, Atlantic coast exercises, and midshipmen training cruises to Canada and New York.
Assigned to Mayport, Florida as her homeport, the ship spent six months conducting Mediterranean operations, served as the station ship for President John F. Kennedy’s European diplomatic trip, and participated in the first Project Mercury space flight recovery fleet.
After her second Mediterranean deployment in 1962, she was deployed south to join the Cuban quarantine forces during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Her participation earned the crew the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
In 1963, the ship responded to political instability in Haiti, then returned to operations in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea. She participated in the Gemini III recovery operations in 1965 and patrolled the coast of Hispaniola during the Dominican Republic crisis, then, after her fifth Mediterranean deployment, she entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard for a comprehensive overhaul.
The Vietnam War
The USS Bigelow’s first Vietnam War deployment began in February 1967 when her gun crews engaged in combat for the first time. She provided fire support for U.S. forces operating near the Demilitarized Zone until she was forced to withdraw for repairs following an explosion and fire in 1967 that killed one sailor and injured six others.[1]
Upon her return to combat, she conducted shore bombardment missions against key roads, bridges, and ports along the North Vietnamese coast, then focused on enemy positions in South Vietnam, supporting U.S. Marine Corps and Army units, plus South Vietnamese forces. At one point, she struck over twenty-five North Vietnamese targets in a ten-day period.
In August 1967, the Bigelow returned to Mayport and underwent engineering modifications for conversion to Navy distillate fuel usage, becoming the first destroyer to implement this fuel system.[1], then was sent on Mediterranean deployments and routine operations through early 1971, when she became the U.S. Navy’s first flagship for the world’s first permanent peacetime multinational naval squadron, NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic.
After completing Caribbean and Jacksonville area operations, the Bigelow returned to NATO Standing Naval Force duties, crossing the Arctic Circle as a demonstration of NATO’s naval cooperation. She spent much of 1973 back at Charleston Naval Shipyard for regular overhaul and removal of her last World War II-vintage anti-submarine armament, her Hedgehog mounts.
Final Years
After training and testing periods, she was sent on several other Mediterranean deployments, at one point conducting surveillance operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and shadowing the Soviet helicopter carrier Leningrad.[1]
After serving as a school ship for the Surface Warfare Officer School and conducting operations with USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), the Bigelow’s 3-inch/50 caliber gun mount was replaced by the Vulcan Phalanx close-in weapons system, a state-of-the-art defense against anti-ship missiles. Testing of the system was interrupted when the ship was sent north of Cuba to monitor a Soviet task force operating in the Gulf of Mexico.
The USS Bigelow returned to Mayport and was decommissioned in late 1982. She was struck from the Navy’s list in 1990 and disposed of as a target ship in 2003.
Why Was Asbestos Used on the USS Bigelow?
During the time that the USS Bigelow was built, the U.S. Navy specified that asbestos should be used in hundreds of applications, and the Forrest Sherman-class destroyers exemplified the mandated usage of the toxic material. From her commissioning through multiple modernization projects, asbestos-containing materials were used in nearly every aspect of the ship’s infrastructure and operational systems.
There were multiple reasons that the Navy favored the use of asbestos: It provided thermal insulation and effective fireproofing, did not conduct electricity, was readily available, and inexpensive. In light of the military’s lack of knowledge about the mineral’s health hazards, those characteristics made its choice obvious. Only the contaminated products’ manufacturers and suppliers were receiving news about the hazards of asbestos, and they concealed that evidence, putting profits over people.
Asbestos on the USS Bigelow: What You Need to Know
Where Was Asbestos Found on the USS Bigelow?
Asbestos was present throughout nearly every component and system of the USS Bigelow. Though the risk was greatest in high-heat areas and sections of the vessel that were wrapped or sprayed with the substance as insulation, the structure of the fibrous mineral meant that the fibers, once airborne, were spread throughout the ship. It was carried on the clothing of those who worked in high-risk areas and circulated through the Bigelow’s ventilation system.
High-Risk Areas Included:
Engine Rooms and Boiler Spaces
Steam pipes, turbines, boilers, and other high-temperature equipment were wrapped or sprayed with asbestos insulation or had it installed within the equipment’s structures.
Firefighting and Emergency Equipment
Items like fireproof suits, gloves, blankets, and protective gear used asbestos to resist heat and flames.
Piping and Exhaust Systems
Asbestos that was wrapped around or sprayed onto pipes and ducts helped regulate heat and protect the crew from burns.
Other Ship Materials
Asbestos was also used in manufacturing gaskets, brake linings, valves, floor tiles, ceiling panels, electrical panels, and wall insulation.
Who Was Exposed to Asbestos Onboard the USS Bigelow, and How?
Though asbestos was included in the ship’s structure and equipment to enhance the vessel’s safety and structural integrity, in reality, it posed significant dangers. As the material broke down, whether as a result of normal wear and tear, during maintenance or repairs, or while being removed and replaced, invisible asbestos fibers were released into the air, where they could remain for hours, be drawn into the ship’s ventilation system and circulated through the ship, or land on the hair, skin, or clothing of the personnel who worked in the areas where it was most concentrated.
Common Exposure Scenarios:
- Repairs, maintenance, or damage control often released microscopic asbestos particles into the air.
- Ventilation systems carried airborne fibers throughout the ship.
- Regular wear and tear allowed fibers to break loose and float into the air, where they could be breathed in or ingested.
When examined under a microscope, asbestos fibers have sharp, needle-like ends. Once inhaled or swallowed, these fibers can easily become embedded in the body’s cells, and particularly in the mesothelium, a smooth organ that lines the cavities that hold the lungs and abdominal organs. Permanently stuck in these cells, the asbestos can cause cell death, inflammation, and tissue damage.
These eventually lead to serious and deadly illnesses, including:
- Mesothelioma
- Lung Cancer
- Asbestosis (lung scarring)
- Other respiratory problems including pleural plaques, COPD, and pleural effusions.
These asbestos-related diseases are known for their long latency periods, which means they often don’t begin to show symptoms until decades after the victim’s exposure to asbestos.
Jobs on the USS Bigelow with the Highest Risk of Asbestos Exposure
While all Bigelow crew members were at risk of asbestos exposure, some of the jobs on the ship carried a higher risk because they involved working directly with or close to asbestos-containing materials. These jobs included:
- Boiler technicians, who worked near asbestos-insulated equipment in extremely confined spaces.
- Machinery and equipment repair workers, who removed and replaced worn-out asbestos materials during repairs.
- Engineering staff, who spent hours around high-pressure steam systems wrapped in asbestos.
- Electricians, who handled wires, panels, and insulation materials that contained asbestos.
- Shipyard workers and maintenance crews, who faced heavy exposure during construction, upgrades, and major repairs.
Help for USS Bigelow Veterans Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
If you are a veteran who served on the USS Bigelow and you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you may be eligible to pursue several different options for compensation, including:
VA Benefits
Veterans who can prove the link between asbestos exposure during their service and an asbestos-related illness may be entitled to:
- Monthly compensation
- Specialized medical care at VA hospitals or approved centers
- 100% disability rating for mesothelioma
- Additional support for family members
To qualify for these benefits, veterans can submit claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Legal Compensation
Victims of asbestos exposure and their survivors have multiple avenues for compensation.
- Personal injury lawsuits can be filed against asbestos manufacturers and suppliers by victims, and wrongful death lawsuits can be filed by their survivors. These claims can go to trial, where juries decide appropriate damages, or may be settled out of court.
- Claims can be filed with asbestos trust funds set up by bankrupt asbestos companies. This option generally provides faster results, though the compensation may be lower than what would be obtained through litigation.
Next Steps for Victims of Asbestos Exposure
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease, it’s important to speak with a knowledgeable advocate who can make sure you understand all your options and the deadlines involved with each one.
An experienced asbestos attorney can help you:
- Review your service history to identify how and when you were exposed, and gather all the medical documentation you’ll need for your VA benefits application.
- Identify the manufacturers and suppliers whose products you were exposed to so you can file personal injury claims against them.
- Guide you through the asbestos trust fund application process.
It’s important to act quickly, as civil claims have deadlines known as statutes of limitations that restrict the amount of time you have to file your lawsuit. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can explain all of these processes and details, answer all your questions, and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
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