The USS Robert H. McCard (DD-822) was a Gearing-class destroyer that served the U.S. Navy from the post-World War II era through the Cold War and the Vietnam conflict. Like virtually every other naval vessel constructed during the mid-20th century, the ship contained extensive amounts of asbestos-containing materials, putting service members aboard the vessel and shipyard personnel who serviced, upgraded, and overhauled her at real risk of developing severe respiratory ailments, including mesothelioma and asbestosis.
The USS Robert H. McCard’s Namesake
The ship was named to honor Robert Howard McCard, a Marine born in Syracuse, New York, in 1918, who enlisted in December 1939. He served with distinction at various installations, including Parris Island, Norfolk Navy Yard, and later at training centers in Quantico, Camp Lejeune, and Camp Pendleton. McCard was killed in action in June 1944, during the Battle of Saipan. When his tank was disabled by enemy fire, Gunnery Sergeant McCard covered his crew’s evacuation with hand grenades and ultimately dismantled one of the tank’s machine guns to fire on Japanese positions before being killed. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.[1]
About the USS Robert H. McCard
Sponsored by Gunnery Sergeant McCard’s widow, the USS Robert H. McCard (DD-822) was constructed by Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas, and launched in November 1945. The ship was commissioned in October 1946, under the command of Commander E. A. Michael, Jr.[1]
As a Gearing-class destroyer, the USS Robert H. McCard displaced 2,425 tons and measured 391 feet in length with a beam of 41 feet. The vessel was armed with formidable weaponry, including six five-inch guns, sixteen 40mm anti-aircraft guns, twelve 20mm guns, depth charge equipment, and five 21-inch torpedo tubes. These armaments provided what was then considered state-of-the-art capabilities for surface combat, anti-aircraft defense, and anti-submarine warfare operations.[2]
Construction and Notable Upgrades
Throughout her operational lifetime, the USS Robert H. McCard underwent several modernization programs that enhanced and improved her combat effectiveness. The ship received regular overhauls at the Boston Naval Shipyard, each followed by intensive refresher training periods supervised by the Fleet Training Group at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A major FRAM I (Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization) overhaul was completed at Boston, after which the ship was rehomed in Charleston in January 1963, with substantially improved anti-submarine warfare capabilities.[1]
These modernization efforts incorporated advanced sonar systems, updated radar equipment, and enhanced weapons systems that kept the destroyer competitive with evolving naval technology throughout her service career. While the upgrades ensured the ship’s continued effectiveness, particularly in the complex naval operations necessitated by the Cold War period, they also led to significant amounts of asbestos being disturbed, exacerbating the exposure risks to the shipyard workers making the changes.
Service and Deployment History of the USS Robert H. McCard
After her commissioning and shakedown training off Guantanamo Bay, the USS Robert H. McCard joined Destroyer Squadron 10 and was homeported in Newport, Rhode Island. She operated from there until 1955, following the standard employment schedule for Atlantic Fleet destroyers. The ship completed eight tours of duty with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, participating in various NATO exercises and diplomatic missions while visiting ports in the Caribbean, Canada, Belgium, and Portugal.[1]
In December 1955, the McCard became part of Destroyer Squadron 4, with Norfolk as her new homeport. She conducted ninth and tenth Mediterranean deployments, including a month-long operation with the Middle East Force in the Persian Gulf. Following extensive training exercises and a midshipman cruise in 1958 that visited Portuguese, Danish, and Belgian ports, the ship’s homeport was changed to Charleston.
During the early 1960s, the USS Robert H. McCard participated in Project Mercury recovery operations from January to February 1961, then deployed to the 6th Fleet in March. She sailed through the Suez Canal to report to the Middle East Force for a six-week patrol of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf regions, then returned to Charleston by way of the Mediterranean in October.
The destroyer continued being sent on Mediterranean deployments throughout the 1960s, serving with the 6th Fleet from October 1963 to March 1964, and again from January to June 1965. During these deployments, she operated under the Middle East Force in February and March 1965, demonstrating American naval presence in this strategically important region.
Following operations in the western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean, the Robert H. McCard transited the Panama Canal in November 1967 and joined the Pacific Fleet. By the end of 1967, she was serving on Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf. Throughout 1968, she provided plane guard duty for aircraft carriers Coral Sea (CVA-43), Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), and Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) in the Tonkin Gulf, participating in emergency search and rescue operations and providing naval gunfire support along the South Vietnamese coast.
After returning to the Atlantic Fleet in 1968, the McCard participated in NATO exercise “Silvertower” in the North Atlantic and underwent an overhaul at Charleston from December 1968 to April 1969. She continued alternating between Atlantic Coast operations and Mediterranean deployments throughout the 1970s, with her final Mediterranean deployment occurring from April to October 1971.
The USS Robert H. McCard was decommissioned in June 1980 and transferred to the Republic of Turkey through the Security Assistance Program that same day.
How Was Asbestos Used Onboard the USS Robert H. McCard?
The extensive use of asbestos throughout the USS Robert H. McCard was typical of naval construction from the 1930s through the 1980s, before the hazards of the mineral became publicly known. In fact, at that time, asbestos was considered an invaluable industrial material, highly regarded for its exceptional fire-resistant and heat-insulating characteristics. Naval architects and shipyard contractors included asbestos in as many applications as possible because of the outstanding thermal protection and structural stability it provided, particularly under extreme operational conditions. This made it seem ideal for maritime applications, where fire suppression and temperature control were top safety concerns. Today, as more and more Navy veterans are diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases, we know that this systematic application was a catastrophic mistake: It was nearly impossible for crew members onboard the USS Robert H. McCard to avoid inhaling the carcinogenic asbestos particles that circulated throughout the vessel’s atmosphere.
The ship areas that contained the most concentrated levels of the hazardous material included:
- Engine and Propulsion Compartments: The vessel’s powerplant was located in the engine and propulsion spaces, and these compartments contained the highest densities of asbestos materials. Due to the intense heat produced by boilers, turbines, and associated machinery, these areas required extensive thermal barriers to protect both personnel and vital equipment. These spaces were also equipped with asbestos-containing blankets, tiles, and spray-applied coatings.
- Piping Networks: Steam lines, hot water systems, and other fluid distribution equipment were wrapped with asbestos-containing insulation materials or heavily coated with spray-on asbestos. These thermal barriers prevented burns and maximized the system’s heat retention and operational efficiency, but they created substantial exposure hazards whenever they were disturbed.
- Safety Equipment: Sailors were equipped with a variety of protective gear designed to ensure their safety, including specialized clothing and gloves, and firefighting apparatus was distributed throughout the ship. All these items incorporated asbestos fibers for thermal protection, exposing crew members to the dangerous fibers even while conducting routine safety operations.
- Structural Elements: Numerous ship components, including gaskets, seals, deck materials, and bulkhead panels, contained asbestos to improve durability and fire resistance. These applications were found in virtually every section of the ship.
Medical Impacts of Asbestos Exposure
Several serious health conditions have been linked to asbestos exposure. Many don’t manifest until decades after contact with the hazardous fibers. The microscopic nature of asbestos particles allows them to penetrate deep into lung tissue and the protective membranes surrounding internal organs, where they can cause permanent damage.
The most common asbestos-related diseases include:
- Mesothelioma: This aggressive form of cancer affects the mesothelium — the organ that lines the cavities that hold the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and typically develops 20-50 years after initial contact with the fibers. The disease has a grim prognosis, with most patients surviving only 12-21 months after diagnosis.
- Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer, especially among individuals who also smoked cigarettes. The combination of asbestos exposure and smoking creates a synergistic effect that dramatically increases the cancer risk compared to either factor alone.
- Asbestosis: This chronic lung condition results from prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers, causing scarring of lung tissue that gets progressively worse and impairs breathing capacity. Asbestosis symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent cough, and chest pain that typically worsen over time.
- Pleural Diseases: Asbestos exposure can cause various conditions affecting the pleura (lung lining), including pleural plaques, pleural effusion, and pleural thickening. While these conditions may not be immediately life-threatening, they can cause significant discomfort and breathing difficulties, substantially diminishing quality of life.
The latency period between asbestos exposure and disease development means that veterans who served on or serviced the USS Robert H. McCard during her later years may still be at risk for developing these conditions.. Early detectionthrough regular medical monitoring can improve treatment options and outcomes for affected individuals.
Personnel at Risk for Asbestos Exposure on the USS Robert H. McCard
The degree of asbestos exposure experienced by naval personnel onboard the USS Robert H. McCard varied depending on their assigned responsibilities and work areas. The carcinogenic mineral was present throughout the vessel and used in countless applications, and any activity that disturbed these materials could release microscopic fibers into the atmosphere.
Those most at risk for this type of exposure included:
- Boiler Room and Propulsion Personnel: Crew members working in engineering spaces, boiler rooms, and machinery compartments faced the greatest exposure risks due to the high concentration of asbestos materials in their job areas. Engine room personnel, boiler technicians, and maintenance crews regularly worked in extremely confined spaces with inadequate ventilation, where asbestos insulation covered pipes, boilers, and other heat-generating equipment. Sailors diagnosed with mesothelioma often recall the extremely dusty, contaminated environment in which they worked, especially during repairs, parts replacement, and maintenance operations.
- Moderate-Risk Personnel: Damage control teams, firefighters, and general maintenance personnel encountered asbestos when performing duties throughout the ship. Though these individuals didn’t exclusively work in the most contaminated areas in the way that boiler room technicians and machinists’ mates did, they still faced significant exposure during emergency responses or routine maintenance tasks involving asbestos-containing components.
- Universal Risk Factors: Given the pervasive use of asbestos materials throughout naval vessels of this era, virtually every crew member aboard the USS Robert H. McCard faced some level of potential exposure. Even those assigned to administrative or operational duties encountered the deadly fibers when asbestos materials were disturbed elsewhere on the ship, as the vessel’s ventilation systems constantly recirculated contaminated air.
Assistance and Compensation for USS Robert H. McCard Veterans
Military veterans who served on the USS Robert H. McCard and who’ve developed asbestos-related illnesses face significant challenges and a poor prognosis, but they do have options for obtaining advanced medical care, financial compensation, and support services.
- Veterans Administration: The Department of Veterans Affairs has recognized the dangers posed by the presence of asbestos materials aboard Gearing-class destroyers, including the USS Robert H. McCard. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions may qualify for disability compensation, healthcare services, and specialized treatment at VA medical facilities. Because mesothelioma is classified as a condition that creates a 100% disability, benefit applications are typically expedited, allowing for prompt access to medical care and financial support.
- Medical Screening and Monitoring: Even veterans who haven’t developed symptoms and who feel healthy should inform their healthcare providers about their history of asbestos exposure so they can arrange for proactive screening and monitor for early signs of asbestos-related diseases. This simple step can make a significant difference in your long-term outcomes, as an earlier diagnosis opens the door to many more treatment options. Screening tests may include chest imaging and pulmonary function tests to detect changes that could indicate developing disease.
- Taking Legal Action Against Asbestos Companies: Navy veterans and former shipyard workers may also pursue compensation from the companies that manufactured and distributed the asbestos-containing products used aboard the vessels they served on. Many of these manufacturers knew about the health risks associated with their products but chose not to provide adequate warnings to military personnel or the armed forces. Successful lawsuits have resulted in substantial settlements and jury verdicts, and many companies forced into bankruptcy by asbestos litigation were required to establish trust funds designed specifically to compensate future claimants diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases.
Many veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma are hesitant about pursuing legal action, but there are very real benefits to speaking with an asbestos attorney. These experienced professionals understand the unique challenges involved in military exposure cases and have deep knowledge of case law and previous litigation. They can explain all of the options available to you, help identify the parties responsible for your exposure, help you navigate complex documentation requirements, and ensure that your claims are filed within the applicable time limits. Acting early is essential, as the clock on strict deadlines for filing legal claims starts ticking immediately after diagnosis.
The combination of VA benefits and potential compensation from responsible manufacturers can provide significant financial resources to help veterans and their families cope with the medical expenses and other costs associated with asbestos-related diseases. Veterans are encouraged to explore all the options available to them to ensure they receive the justice, support, and compensation they deserve.
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