The USS Power (DD-839) was a Gearing-class destroyer that was constructed during the era when asbestos was considered the best material available for naval vessel construction. It was integrated into critical ship systems, structural components, and operational supplies throughout the U.S. Navy fleet. The inclusion of this material aboard the Power resulted in many of her former sailors developing pleural mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other severe respiratory ailments. While some veterans have succumbed to these illnesses, others face the possibility of developing symptoms despite their naval service concluding decades ago.
About the USS Power
The USS Power was a Gearing-class destroyer that served the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1977. Over the course of her 32 years of active duty, the vessel participated in post-World War II Mediterranean patrols, Cold War operations, Vietnam War combat missions, and NATO exercises. During peacetime, the Power conducted training operations along the Atlantic Coast and participated in space program recovery missions.[1]
About the Gearing Class Destroyers
Gearing-class destroyers like the USS Power represented the final iteration of destroyers built for the Navy during World War II. The vessels incorporated improvements from the Fletcher and Allen M. Sumner classes that preceded them, retaining their enhanced anti-aircraft systems but receiving a major engineering modification that significantly improved the ships’ operational capabilities — a 14-foot hull lengthening that increased both fuel storage and operational endurance. This resolved a critical limitation in previous designs and enabled this destroyer class to escort fast carrier battle groups on prolonged missions without regular refueling.
Although commissioned in 1945, after World War II had concluded, the USS Power and the other 97 Gearing-class destroyers were used for decades before being decommissioned. Initially engineered for anti-aircraft and surface combat, they underwent multiple post-World War II modifications to address changing tactical requirements. The Cold War period and the expanding Soviet submarine presence required improved anti-submarine warfare capabilities, leading many vessels to receive substantial enhancements through the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program implemented during the 1950s and 1960s. These upgrades replaced obsolete weapon systems with sophisticated sonar and radar installations, while simultaneously enhancing crew living conditions. As a result of these constant improvements, many of the vessels were able to continue operating for allied fleets once the Navy no longer had use for them.[2]
The USS Power and her sister ships displaced 3,460 tons and measured 390 feet 6 inches in length, with 40-foot beams and 14-foot 4-inch drafts. They had sophisticated propulsion systems, powered by high-pressure Babcock & Wilcoxboilers and General Electric steam turbines that could generate 35-knot maximum speeds. This provided Power with the rapid deployment capabilities essential for her wide range of assignments. Her weapons configuration included six 5-inch naval guns, sixteen 40mm anti-aircraft guns, twenty 20mm cannons, five 21-inch torpedo tubes, and depth charge systems. She housed 336 officers and enlisted personnel, and during her service career, the ship transported thousands of naval service members, many of whom subsequently encountered health complications resulting from their shipboard asbestos exposure.
Construction and Service History of the USS Power
Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, constructed the USS Power during the final months of World War II. The vessel was launched in June 1945 and named for First Lieutenant John Vincent Power, USMC, who perished during the Marshall Islands campaign. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously, and his mother, Mrs. George F. Power, served as the ship’s sponsor during her christening ceremony.[1]
Following commissioning in September 1945, the USS Power conducted initial shakedown operations from Guantanamo Bay before beginning her extensive deployment schedule. Her first Mediterranean assignment commenced in January 1946, establishing a pattern of international operations that would define her career. The destroyer conducted Palestine coast patrols under United Nations direction during the volatile 1948 transition period.[3]
The Power’s early 1950s operations included joint training with British Royal Navy units and port visits throughout Northern Europe before returning to Mediterranean duties with the Sixth Fleet. A South American cruise in summer 1952 expanded her operational range, followed by regular Atlantic Coast training exercises and Midshipman instruction programs.
The Power’s assignments included involvement in America’s space program. The ship supported Project Mercury recovery operations, but her most significant space program contribution came in late 1965, when she served as a mid-Atlantic recovery vessel for the historic Gemini 6 and 7 missions.
Between 1960 and 1968, Power continued Mediterranean deployments while also serving with the Middle East Force. Her operations included Polaris submarine program support off eastern Florida and extensive NATO exercises throughout European waters.
In August 1968, the Power transited the Panama Canal for a Western Pacific deployment, joining the Seventh Fleet for Vietnam War operations. From September 1968, she conducted “Yankee Station” surveillance duties and provided naval gunfire support for ground forces engaged in combat operations. Search and rescue missions for downed aviators represented another critical wartime responsibility before her return to Mayport, Florida, in July 1969.
In 1970 and 1971, following her Vietnam service, the USS Power deployed globally, conducting flag-showing missions to South American, African, and Persian Gulf ports. Mediterranean deployments in 1972 and 1973 included comprehensive training exercises involving gunnery practice, amphibious operations, and anti-submarine warfare drills.
In September 1973, the Power relocated from Mayport, Florida, to Fort Schuyler, New York, assuming Naval Reserve Force responsibilities. This transition enabled Selected Reserve training programs, with reserve crews conducting monthly weekend training and annual two-week exercises. A comprehensive $5.5 million overhaul in 1974 modernized the vessel’s engineering systems, electronics, and crew accommodations.
The USS Power was decommissioned in September 1977 and transferred to the Republic of China Navy.
How Was Asbestos Used on the USS Power?
From the 1930s through the 1970s, Naval regulations required that asbestos be used in all fleet vessel construction, and the USS Power was included in this practice. From her initial commissioning through numerous modernization programs and system upgrades, asbestos-containing materials were integrated throughout the vessel’s infrastructure and operational systems. It was even included in parts and supplies kept in the ship’s inventory.
The Navy’s mandate that asbestos be used was based on its superior thermal insulation characteristics, fire resistance, chemical durability, and structural strength. The lightweight, cost-effective material appeared ideal for safeguarding both military equipment and personnel, but those Navy personnel who were ordering it were missing crucial information: They were unaware of the health hazards associated with exposure to the mineral. The manufacturers and suppliers fulfilling these contracts had learned of asbestos’s carcinogenic properties years earlier from scientific reports issued to the industry, but they concealed this information to continue earning profits. This decision, which was later revealed during discovery tied to personal injury lawsuits, has been blamed for widespread fatalities among Navy veterans and civilian populations alike.
Asbestos was in virtually every section of the USS Power, with especially dense concentrations in the ship’s heat- and friction-producing areas, including:
- Propulsion Systems: Engineering compartments contained asbestos insulation protecting boilers, turbines, pumps, condensers, and other high-temperature, high-friction machinery.
- Safety Equipment: Fire-resistant clothing, gloves, blankets, and firefighting apparatus incorporated asbestos fibers for protection from flame and heat.
- Distribution Networks: The extensive network of steam lines, exhaust systems, and utility conduits throughout the vessel depended on asbestos insulation to maintain temperature regulation and prevent injuries among those assigned to maintain them.
- Structural Elements: Asbestos was concealed within numerous ship components, including gaskets, brake materials, valve packing, electrical panels, insulation boards, deck tiles, and overhead materials.
Who Was Affected by Asbestos on the USS Power?
USS Power crew members likely viewed enemy action as the primary threat they confronted, or maybe even sinking or collisions. But decades following those deployments, more naval personnel have been disabled or killed by the asbestos exposure they experienced during their service than were harmed by battle wounds. The shipboard asbestos fibers from damaged components became airborne during maintenance, repairs of all kinds, or when routine operations disturbed contaminated materials. The crew encountered tiny particles of asbestos regularly as they were carried through the ship on workers’ hair, skin, and uniforms, and were dispersed through the ship’s air circulation systems from high-concentration locations.
When examined microscopically, asbestos fibers resemble needles or hooks. Once they’re breathed in or swallowed, they can become stuck in the tissues they encounter, specifically the cells of an organ called the mesothelium that lines the cavities holding the lungs and abdominal organs. Once lodged there, inflammatory reactions can set in and ultimately lead to cell destruction, tissue damage, and possible genetic alterations. This fatal mechanism typically remains concealed for decades before the symptoms of these serious medical conditions appear. It’s common for asbestos-related illnesses to emerge between 20 and 50 years after exposure, leaving patients suddenly confronted with the tragic reality of pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and other debilitating respiratory disorders.
While all personnel aboard the USS Power encountered some exposure hazards, specific job assignments presented elevated risks. Engineering staff, maintenance teams, and damage control personnel suffered concentrated exposures, especially when laboring in poorly ventilated spaces where asbestos materials were constantly being removed, replaced, scraped, or in some other way generating toxic dust. Others facing shipboard asbestos exposure included:
- Boiler Technicians – These sailors managed the operation and maintenance of high-pressure boiler systems that were heavily coated and lined with asbestos-containing insulation.
- Pipeline Specialists – These personnel serviced the ship’s piping networks, most of which were covered in asbestos-based insulation. Exposure danger peaked during repairs, as fixing deteriorated or leaking pipes typically required removing degraded insulation, which released asbestos particles.
- Machinery Operators – These workers functioned deep within the ship’s power plant areas, surrounded by equipment that was insulated with asbestos materials. These machines continuously vibrated, causing insulation to break down and pollute the atmosphere, even during normal operations.
- Maintenance Technicians – These sailors handled servicing and rebuilding various onboard systems, including ventilation equipment, compressors, and electrical generators that commonly contained asbestos in seals, gaskets, and insulation. Scheduled maintenance procedures frequently disturbed these components, releasing asbestos fibers into the atmosphere where they could be breathed or swallowed.
- Electrical Specialists – These personnel managed the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systemsthroughout the ship. Much of the vessel’s wiring, circuit panels, and control equipment were treated with asbestos-based materials, exposing electricians during both scheduled inspections and emergency repairs.
- Shipyard and Overhaul Personnel – The industrial workers who constructed and modernized the USS Power encountered high concentrations of asbestos as they cut, shaped, and installed asbestos-containing materials throughout the ship, typically without respiratory protection. This group included both military personnel and civilian contractors.
Help for USS Power Crew Members Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
Sailors who served on the USS Power, as well as shipyard personnel involved in her construction, modernization, and maintenance, likely encountered substantial asbestos exposure during their service. This has resulted in many veterans being diagnosed with mesothelioma and other serious health conditions, and those who served in the ship’s later operational years may still become ill in the future.
VA Claims
Veterans who’ve received mesothelioma diagnoses and who can demonstrate the relationship between their illness and their military service qualify for special disability compensation at a 100% disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Although navigating the VA claims process presents challenges, the outcome offers significant benefits, including specialized medical care at either VA healthcare facilities or approved civilian treatment centers with particular expertise in treating asbestos-related diseases.
Compensation from Lawsuits and Asbestos Trust Funds
Navy veterans affected by asbestos on the USS Power may also be eligible to seek compensation from the corporations responsible for producing and supplying asbestos products throughout the Navy’s procurement system. Over the last several decades, successful litigation against these companies has generated significant financial settlements and jury verdicts. Furthermore, many manufacturers whose asbestos responsibilities forced them into bankruptcy were mandated to create trust funds specifically designated for the compensation of exposure victims.
Contact an Asbestos Attorney Today
If you served aboard the USS Power and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, contact an experienced asbestos attorney immediately. These skilled professionals can offer invaluable information and assistance, examining your service and occupational background to determine when you were exposed and which manufacturers’ and suppliers’ asbestos-containing products you encountered. They can also assist with the complex VA benefits process to ensure you receive every benefit you deserve for your service-connected health conditions.
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