The USS Caron was one of the Navy’s most accomplished destroyers of the late 20th century. Built in the early 1970s, she was also one of the last ships to be constructed using asbestos insulation and other parts and components. Today, many sailors and shipyard workers who worked on the ship are at risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other serious illnesses.
About the USS Caron
The Ship’s Namesake
The USS Caron was named for Hospital Corpsman Third Class Wayne Maurice Caron. After enlisting in the Navy in 1966, Caron trained as a hospital corpsman and then deployed to Vietnam. He is credited with saving at least three lives when, during combat operations in Quang Nam Province in 1968, he treated wounded Marines under enemy fire. Despite being wounded twice, he continued providing care while crawling between casualties, refusing aid for himself until he was killed by an enemy rocket. Caron was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.[1]
Construction of the USS Caron
The USS Caron was laid down in July 1974 at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by Ingalls Shipbuilding. She was one of 31 Spruance-class destroyers developed specifically to defend nuclear aircraft carrier task forces against advanced submarine threats. The ships were more than twice the size of World War II destroyers and were powered entirely by four General Electric gas turbines that achieved a speed of 32.5 knots. The ship was 563′ 4″ long and displaced 9,250 long tons when fully loaded and carried a complement of 24 officers and 330 enlisted men.[2]
Navy records indicate that Spruance-class destroyers, including USS Caron, were constructed using asbestos insulation, as well as clutches and electrical cables contaminated with the material. Despite being aware of the dangers of the mineral, by 1979, the military had decided against a comprehensive $2 billion asbestos abatement program, determining the benefits did not justify the costs. Instead, they issued guidelines to remove damaged asbestos insulation and to administer selective replacement in high-maintenance areas. Though the Navy estimated this policy would remove most thermal asbestos insulation over five years, it also acknowledged that 30-50% of the toxic material would remain untouched for the ship’s lifetime, and they decided that there were many applications for which acceptable asbestos-free substitutes were not available.[3]
Early Years
Launched in 1975 and sponsored by Mrs. Teresa (Caron) Young, widow of the ship’s namesake, the Caron was commissioned in October 1977 under Commander Earle G. Schweizer Jr. Assigned to Norfolk Naval Base as her home port, the Caron spent the first five months of her service completing systems testing and hosting two former Chiefs of Naval Operations for a Spruance-class orientation cruise. She then participated in antisubmarine warfare exercises and served as a test ship for torpedo detection systems. Between 1978 and 1979, Caron underwent significant upgrades at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, receiving the Classic Outboard surveillance system and RGM-84 Harpoon antiship missiles. She became the first Atlantic Fleet destroyer to operate both Classic Outboard and Outlaw Shark targeting systems simultaneously, establishing her reputation as a technological pioneer.[1]
In June 1979, the ship was deployed to surveil Soviet vessels in the Mediterranean, then was sent with the USS Farragut to the Black Sea, attracting significant attention from the Soviets. In March 1980, Caron became the first Spruance-class destroyer to operate north of the Arctic Circle, and later became the first Spruance-class vessel to qualify for naval gunfire support at Bloodsworth Island, using an airborne spotter in a LAMPS helicopter.
Operation Urgent Fury – Grenada
In October 1983, the Caron was diverted from her Mediterranean deployment to support Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. As the first U.S. Navy ship to arrive on the scene, she gathered intelligence and provided critical fire support, neutralizing the communist “Radio Free Grenada” station and enabling a SEAL team to escape an enemy encirclement. The destroyer rescued 41 soldiers and sailors during the operation, earning the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.[1]
Lebanon and Desert Storm Operations
Following Grenada, the Caron operated off the coast of Lebanon, supporting multinational peacekeeping forces. In February 1984, she fired 450 rounds over seven hours, destroying hostile targets and earning the Navy Expeditionary Medal. In 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, the ship deployed to the Red Sea with the Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group. On the opening night of the air campaign, she fired two BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles at Iraqi targets, and throughout the deployment, she conducted Maritime Interception Operations, boarding vessels to enforce UN sanctions against Iraq.
Black Sea Confrontations
While conducting freedom of navigation exercises in the Black Sea in 1986, the Caron entered Soviet territorial waters off the Crimean Peninsula, coming within six miles of Sevastopol. Despite Soviet protests and bomber overflights, the ship maintained course for two hours, asserting the right of innocent passage. Following this incident, a 1988 Black Sea operation with USS Yorktown saw Soviet vessels physically confront the ships. The Soviet frigate SKR-6 deliberately rammed Caron’s stern, causing cosmetic damage but no casualties. The incident attracted international attention and heightened Cold War tensions.
Major Overhauls and Modernization
Caron underwent significant modernizations during two major overhauls. Her first regular overhaul at Pascagoula installed the Vulcan Phalanx CIWS system. The second overhaul in New Orleans (1988-1990) was more extensive, adding the Tactical Towed Array Sensor (TACTAS), Mk. 41 Vertical Launching System, and Recovery at Sea Transverse (RAST) System. During this period, Caron’s crew demonstrated exceptional community service, participating in Special Olympics, renovating facilities, and revitalizing Naval recruiting programs.[1]
Counter-Narcotics and Humanitarian Operations
Throughout the 1990s, Caron conducted extensive counter-narcotics operations and law enforcement missions in the Caribbean. During Operation Able Vigil in 1994, she rescued over 2,000 Cuban refugees attempting to cross the Florida Straits, establishing outdoor living facilities on the ship’s decks to provide humane conditions for the refugees during transport to Guantánamo Bay.
Cold War’s End and New Partnerships
As the Cold War ended, the Caron participated in diplomatic missions, visiting the former Soviet Northern Fleet headquarters in 1995. Russian officials welcomed her with traditional “Bread and Salt” ceremonies, and crews from both navies conducted joint memorial services and participated in sports competitions to demonstrate the transition from being adversaries to partners. The ship’s final years included Middle East Force deployments to enforce sanctions against Iraq and conduct exercises with allied navies. Her last Mediterranean deployment occurred in 2000 as part of Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean. She was decommissioned in October 2001 and subsequently used for explosives testing until she was inadvertently sunk during the first test in 2002.[1]
Why Did the Navy Include Asbestos in Naval Vessels?
Between the 1930s and early 1970s, the US Navy ordered that all its ships’ structures and equipment include substantial quantities of asbestos materials. Though the Caron was completed and commissioned after the military had changed its product specifications to specify the use of asbestos-free materials, many had already been purchased, and in some cases, installed. This meant that some ships were delivered with asbestos insulation as late as May 1978, the Caron being one of them.[3]
Where Was Asbestos Present on the USS Caron?
Although asbestos products were incorporated throughout virtually every section of the destroyer, the highest concentrations of asbestos insulation existed in areas housing high-heat equipment and the ship’s gas-driven turbines. The vessel’s mechanical spaces—including power plants, boiler rooms, and equipment compartments—featured extensive asbestos insulation surrounding pipes, fittings, generators, and boilers, with the substance also utilized in seals, gaskets, packing compounds, and fire-resistant applications.
Outside the mechanical areas, asbestos was also integrated into flooring tiles, partition panels, overhead materials, and numerous bonding agents used across the ship’s living quarters. Even safety clothing and fire suppression gear incorporated asbestos fibers.
How Were USS Caron Personnel Exposed to Asbestos?
Though the USS Caron and other Spruance-class destroyers were much larger than those built during and immediately after World War II, quarters onboard the ship were still extremely tight, and the restricted nature of life onboard the ship made it unlikely that crew members could have avoided coming into contact with the carcinogenic material.
While asbestos is generally safe when undisturbed and encapsulated, once it is disrupted or starts to decay, it breaks down into invisible fibers, and that is when it becomes hazardous. Standard maintenance and repair activities and continuous vibration from the ship itself, particularly when its guns were firing, all contributed to asbestos-bearing materials degrading and becoming what experts call “friable.”
When asbestos releases its microscopic particles into the atmosphere, they can stay suspended for hours, easily breathed in by anyone nearby. The harm caused by these tiny materials starts when their needle-like ends become permanently lodged in the body’s cells. Both lung tissue and the mesothelial membrane that prevents internal organs from adhering to each other are particularly susceptible to this type of foreign body, and once the fibers are present, it is nearly impossible for the body to expel them. Over decades, the cellular changes and inflammation they cause can lead to severe health conditions, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and malignant mesothelioma.
Who Aboard the USS Caron Faced the Highest Risk of Asbestos Exposure?
Though many Navy veterans who never worked directly with asbestos-containing products have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses, the crew members who did work with the material were at much higher risk. These included:
- Engineering staff who worked in the poorly ventilated boiler and engine compartments, where asbestos insulation was utilized most heavily. These areas were notoriously cramped and had poor air circulation.
- Maintenance and repair technicians who directly handled asbestos-containing products during regular upkeep, emergency fixes, and overhaul periods.
- Shipyard workers, both during the construction of the ship and during upgrades, when renovation work disrupted large amounts of asbestos materials.
- Damage control teams who worked with asbestos-contaminated firefighting equipment and emergency repair supplies that contained asbestos. Understanding the Dangers of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure has been linked to serious long-term health dangers that often don’t manifest symptoms for twenty to fifty years. This means that veterans who were on the USS Caron at any point during her service may only now be developing symptoms of exposure-related conditions, while others may not be diagnosed for decades.
The main diseases connected with asbestos exposure include asbestosis, a chronic lung disorder that causes scarring and respiratory difficulties; lung cancer, which can occur in both smokers and non-smokers exposed to asbestos; and malignant mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that impacts the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. The odds of developing any of these diseases generally depend upon the length and severity of exposure, but even relatively short contact with asbestos has led to serious health complications, and the risk is magnified for those who smoked, as the combination of asbestos exposure and tobacco use substantially increases the probability of developing lung cancer.
Why You Should Alert Your Healthcare Provider to Your Asbestos Exposure History
If you’re a veteran who served aboard the USS Caron, you should discuss your history of asbestos exposure with your doctor, even if you currently feel fine. This information is vital for several reasons:
- Early diagnosis makes a difference. Doctors who are informed of their patient’s asbestos exposure background can watch for early indicators of related diseases and make sure that appropriate screening procedures are done. Early-stage identification of asbestos-related diseases often results in better treatment outcomes and enhanced survival rates.
- Symptom recognition is essential. Your healthcare provider can inform you about specific warning signs and red flags to monitor. These include persistent cough, chest discomfort, breathing difficulties, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal swelling. Veterans who know what symptoms to report can seek medical attention earlier than those who dismiss what they’re experiencing as ‘just a cold or flu.’
- Specialized treatment may be required. Physicians who’ve been alerted to the risk of asbestos-related diseases are more likely to refer you to a specialist sooner.
- Medical documentation supports VA benefits applications. Medical records that document your asbestos exposure history, even before diagnosis, can be invaluable when filing disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairsor pursuing legal action against responsible manufacturers.
Benefits and Compensation Available to Navy Veterans with Mesothelioma
Veterans who served aboard the USS Caron and who’ve developed asbestos-related conditions are entitled to support and compensation for the health issues they face. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes malignant mesothelioma as a 100% disabling condition, which means that veterans who prove service-connected asbestos exposure may qualify for complete disability benefits. These benefits include monthly compensation payments, comprehensive healthcare coverage through VA medical centers, and access to specialized treatment facilities nationwide that have experience treating asbestos-related diseases.
How an Asbestos Attorney Can Help
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma can benefit greatly from working with a skilled, experienced attorney who focuses on asbestos-related cases. These professionals are knowledgeable, compassionate, and have a deep understanding of the unique issues involved with asbestos exposure during military service. They can provide you with a wide range of services, assisting you in preparing and submitting a VA disability claim, helping ensure that all the paperwork you need is complete and accurate. Their guidance is often key to obtaining the medical care and financial support you and your loved ones are entitled to receive.
An asbestos lawyer can help determine if you qualify to seek compensation from asbestos trust funds that bankrupt companies were forced to create to pay victims who develop illnesses caused by exposure to their products in the future. While applying to these trusts is generally less confrontational than filing a lawsuit, the process still involves complex requirements and documentation that a legal expert can help you understand and complete.
In addition, a mesothelioma attorney can take legal action against the manufacturers and suppliers responsible for providing the military with asbestos-based products. Law firms with experience in asbestos litigation have detailed records showing which companies provided materials to specific naval vessels and bases and the compensation amounts that have been ordered by juries. This insight and their familiarity with legal precedent in asbestos cases help them identify every possible company that may be liable and pursue the highest possible compensation on your behalf.
Legal deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, apply to asbestos-related claims, and they differ in each state across the country. An asbestos attorney can help clarify the limits that apply to your case and ensure that your rights are protected.
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