The USS Ozbourn (DD-846) was a distinguished Gearing-class destroyer that served the United States Navy from 1946 to 1975. Like nearly all naval vessels constructed during the mid-20th century, the ship was built with asbestos-containing materials and contained asbestos-contaminated equipment throughout. Thousands of sailors who served aboard the Ozbourn faced direct asbestos exposure, and now are at elevated risk for developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and additional severe illnesses.
The USS Ozbourn: A Gearing-Class Destroyer
The USS Ozbourn was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the most successful designs to come out of World War II. program. The ships in this class emerged from continuous design refinements and improvements over the preceding Allen M. Sumner-class, and featured a distinctive 14-foot hull extension that enhanced fuel capacity and improved internal layout optimization. The result was a dramatic increase in operational range. Though the Navy’s initial production plans called for 152 vessels in the class, the war ended with only 98 completed. Still, the Gearing design’s flexibility allowed for substantial modifications, so most of those that were completed and survived the war saw extended useful life after undergoing comprehensive anti-submarine warfare enhancements and radar picket conversions.[1]
Like other Gearing-class destroyers, the Ozbourn measured 391 feet long and had a 41-foot beam. Her full-load displacement totaled approximately 3,400 tons, and she accommodated a crew complement of 14 officers and 260 enlisted sailors. The ship achieved maximum speeds of 34 knots, powered by four boilers supplying steam to General Electric geared turbines that were heavily insulated with asbestos-containing materials. After World War II, she underwent a FRAM I conversion that gave her an armament configuration including one ASROC missile launcher, two 5-inch/38 caliber twin mounts, Mk-32 ASW torpedo tubes in two triple mounts, and two DASH drones for anti-submarine operations.[2]
The History and Heritage of the USS Ozbourn
The USS Ozbourn was named for Private Joseph William Ozbourn, USMCR, a Browning automatic rifleman with the First Battalion, Twenty-Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division. Private Ozbourn was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.[3]
During the invasion of Tinian Island in the Marianas in 1944, Private Ozbourn was advancing toward an enemy dugout when an explosion from the dugout entrance severely wounded him and four comrades. Unable to throw his armed hand grenade without endangering the other men, he grasped it close to his body, absorbing the full impact of the explosion and saving his comrades.
Construction and Early Service
The USS Ozbourn was built at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and launched in December 1945, with Private Ozbourn’s widow serving as the ship’s sponsor. The Navy commissioned the vessel in March 1946, and by August, the ship had transited through the Panama Canal to her homeport of San Diego, California.[3]
During her first Far East deployment in 1947, the Ozbourn rescued a Chinese oil tanker in distress and the crew of a merchant ship that ran aground and broke in half. In November 1948, the Ozbourn and the USS Chandler collided during darkened ship operations, tragically resulting in the loss of two Ozbourn crew members. After her bow was replaced at Long Beach Naval Shipyard in 1950, she participated in the first guided missile tests at sea, serving as an observing ship for the USS Norton Sound.[3]
When the Korean War started, the Ozbourn joined Task Force 77, participating in the Inchon invasion and conducting air operations off the Korean coast. In February 1951, she received two direct hits and several near hits while under Communist shore battery fire. That same day, she sent a motor whaleboat to rescue a downed pilot from the USS Valley Forge who was floating in an enemy minefield fourteen miles away. She later entered Wonsan Harbor, where she destroyed railroad cars, trucks, sampans, and coastal gun emplacements. In July 1952, she rescued 18 men from the USS Boxer when their ship was on fire and rescued three downed airmen from USS Essex the following day.
Cold War Operations and FRAM Conversion
During the mid-1950s, the Ozbourn was regularly sent to the Far East. In February 1955, she played an important role in evacuating Chinese Nationalist Forces from the Tachen Islands, and in December, she was diverted to search for survivors of a Japanese fishing vessel that had sunk during a typhoon. She successfully rescued three survivors.
In March 1961, the Ozbourn entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for her FRAM conversion. The conversion was completed in December, and in February 1962, the Ozbourn departed for her new homeport of Long Beach, California.
Vietnam War Service (1963-1968)
In May 1963, the USS Ozbourn was chosen to demonstrate anti-submarine capabilities for President Kennedy. From 1964 through 1967, she was sent on multiple Vietnam War deployments, providing crucial naval gunfire support and delivering thousands of explosive rounds supporting ground forces and Special Forces teams. In March 1967, enemy fire damaged her radar and ignited missiles, and while operating with Task Group 77.1, she engaged enemy positions multiple times, suffering two direct hits, one of which killed two sailors. Over the course of her WESTPAC tour, the Ozbourn steamed 123,219 nautical miles, fired 16,777 rounds, confirmed 88 enemy killed, and was credited with causing extensive damage to the enemy. Her crew earned four Purple Hearts and numerous commendations.
Final Deployments and Decommissioning
Following a four-month Long Beach Naval Shipyard overhaul and being awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for meritorious service during 1966-1968 Southeast Asia combat operations, the Ozbourn was deployed to the Western Pacific again, spending significant time there between September 1969 and her final WESTPAC tour in April 1972. The ship was decommissioned in June 1975 and sold for scrap that December. During her career, the USS Ozbourn earned five Korean War battle stars, ten Vietnam War battle stars, and numerous additional commendations.[3]
The Navy’s Dependence on Asbestos
The United States Navy started to systematically use asbestos-containing materials during the early 1900s. This use peaked during World War II and the Cold War. While every military branch valued asbestos for its exceptional fire-resistance, thermal insulation, and resistance to corrosion, these characteristics were considered essential for protecting and maintaining the Navy’s combat vessels. The mineral’s flexible fibrous composition made it especially useful for shipboard applications ranging from piping insulation to gasket materials and brake components.
The USS Ozbourn was built during this time of maximum asbestos use, when Navy specifications mandated the use of asbestos in hundreds of applications throughout destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, and submarines. The ship underwent multiple repairs over the years, as well as a FRAM modernization in 1961 that exposed shipyard workersand mechanics to asbestos, and despite increasing awareness of health hazards associated with asbestos exposure, this extensive use continued well into the 1970s.
For the Navy, the critical turning point in its reliance on asbestos occurred during the 1970s, when accumulating scientific evidence definitively established the connection between asbestos exposure and serious respiratory diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. By 1973, the Navy implemented restrictions on asbestos use in new construction and major overhauls, and by 1975, the service had substantially eliminated asbestos from new installations. Unfortunately, existing contaminated materials were still in place in thousands of vessels.
Managing the legacy asbestos already installed throughout the fleet presented an enormous logistical challenge. In response, the Navy developed comprehensive asbestos management programs, including detailed material surveys, personnel training for those who might encounter asbestos during maintenance operations, and strict handling and disposal procedures, but the extensive integration of these materials into ship structures and systems led to complete asbestos removal being deemed impractical. Instead, the Navy emphasized containment, encapsulation, and careful management of materials until contaminated vessels could reach decommissioning.
Asbestos Applications Throughout the USS Ozbourn
The USS Ozbourn contained asbestos-containing materials throughout virtually every compartment and shipboard system. This distribution reflected standard practices of the period, as naval specifications required asbestos-containing products wherever heat resistance, fire protection, or insulation was necessary. This mandate meant the mineral appeared throughout the vessel’s entire structure.
The ship’s machinery spaces harbored the greatest concentrations of asbestos materials. Boiler rooms, engine compartments, and auxiliary machinery spaces featured asbestos insulation to protect both equipment and personnel from extreme temperatures. Steam piping, exhaust systems, and turbine housings were wrapped with asbestos-containing insulation and blankets. Heat exchangers, condensers, and other vital components utilized asbestos gaskets and packing materials to prevent leaks and maintain system integrity.
Throughout the ship’s living and working compartments, asbestos appeared in floor tiles, wall panels, ceiling materials, and paint formulations. Electrical systems depended on asbestos-containing wire insulation and junction box materials. The ship’s damage control equipment, including firefighting suits, blankets, and hoses, incorporated asbestos fibers for protection against extreme temperatures and flames.
Ventilation systems circulated asbestos-containing materials throughout the vessel via ductwork insulation, and filter materials. Even standard maintenance supplies and consumables, including valve packing and joint compounds, contained substantial asbestos content, and the ship’s weapons systems, including gun mounts and ammunition handling equipment, incorporated asbestos materials for thermal protection and fire resistance.
Personnel at Risk of Asbestos Exposure Aboard the USS Ozbourn
Every sailor who served aboard the USS Ozbourn faced potential asbestos exposure due to the pervasive presence of asbestos-containing materials throughout the vessel. The ship’s cramped spaces trapped the microscopic fibers, while mechanical ventilation systems circulated them throughout the ship whenever they were sent airborne by maintenance activities, equipment vibration, routine operations, or coming under enemy fire.
Specific crew members faced dramatically higher exposure risks due to their assignments and work environments. Engineering personnel, including boiler technicians, machinists’ mates, and enginemen, worked directly with heavily insulated machinery and piping systems containing the highest concentrations of asbestos materials. These sailors routinely performed maintenance and repair tasks involving cutting, grinding, or removing asbestos-containing insulation and gaskets.
Damage control personnel and firefighters encountered asbestos during emergency response situations and routine training exercises. Their protective equipment and firefighting materials contained asbestos fibers, and emergency repairs frequently involved disturbing asbestos-containing materials in damaged compartments. This was particularly significant aboard the Ozbourn, which sustained battle damage on multiple occasions during Korean War and Vietnam War operations, requiring emergency repairs that would have disturbed asbestos-containing materials.
Shipyard personnel and maintenance crews who performed overhauls, repairs, and modifications faced substantial exposure risks. During the FRAM modernization that the Ozbourn underwent in 1961, workers removed, replaced, and installed numerous asbestos-containing components and systems. The compact working areas and intensive work schedules of these operations often resulted in high-concentration exposures.
Even crew members not directly involved in handling or working near asbestos faced exposure risks through contaminated clothing, shared ventilation systems, and the general presence of asbestos materials in living and working spaces. The ship’s close quarters meant that asbestos fibers disturbed in one area could migrate throughout the vessel, potentially affecting all personnel aboard.
The Hazards of Asbestos
Asbestos exposure creates severe health risks that can remain hidden for decades before manifesting as serious diseases. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, they release microscopic fibers into the air that can be inhaled or ingested. These fibers become permanently embedded in the lungs, pleura, and other tissues, where they trigger inflammatory responses and cellular damage that can eventually result in cancer and other life-threatening conditions.
Mesothelioma constitutes the most serious asbestos-related disease. This rare and aggressive cancer is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and is invariably considered fatal, with most patients surviving only 12 to 21 months after diagnosis. It affects the thin membrane lining the lungs, heart, or abdomen and typically develops 20 to 50 years after initial exposure. Mesothelioma symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent cough, and abdominal swelling.
Another significant risk associated with asbestos exposure is lung cancer. This is particularly for those individuals who were exposed to asbestos and who also used tobacco products. Asbestos-related lung cancer may not develop for 15 to 35 years after exposure and often presents with symptoms similar to other forms of lung cancer, including persistent cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. The combination of asbestos exposure and smoking dramatically increases the risk of developing both lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma.
Asbestosis is a non-cancerous but serious lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The inflammation those fibers cause results in scarring of lung tissue, leading to progressively worsening breathing difficulties, persistent cough, and significant chest pain. Severe cases can lead to respiratory failure and death.
Other asbestos-related diseases include pleural plaques, pleural effusions, and diffuse pleural thickening. While these conditions are not typically fatal, they affect the lining of the lungs and can cause significant breathing difficulties and chest pain that impact quality of life. Importantly, they frequently serve as predictors of more serious asbestos-related diseases developing in the future.
Legal Options for USS Ozbourn Veterans
Veterans who served aboard the USS Ozbourn and have developed asbestos-related illnesses have multiple options for both compensation and cutting-edge medical care, as legal precedent and the government’s recognition of asbestos aboard Navy ships have established a pathway for affected veterans.
VA Claims
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides comprehensive benefits for veterans with service-connected asbestos-related diseases. Those diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis can file claims for disability compensation, specialized medical treatment, and additional benefits for their families. The VA recognizes mesothelioma as a presumptive service-connected condition for veterans who served on ships containing asbestos, which streamlines the process for affected individuals.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Beyond VA benefits, veterans may pursue legal action against manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos-containing products used aboard their vessels. Successful litigation can result in substantial settlements or jury awards to compensate for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Thousands of these personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits have been successfully resolved against companies that produced boiler insulation, gaskets, valves, and other asbestos-containing materials found aboard destroyers like the USS Ozbourn.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Asbestos trust funds represent another important source of compensation for affected veterans. Many companies that manufactured asbestos products were required to establish these funds as part of their bankruptcy proceedings. Created specifically to compensate victims of asbestos-related diseases, these trusts have already paid billions of dollars in claims and continue to hold approximately $30 billion more. They provide an attractive alternative for those who want to avoid a stressful or lengthy litigation process.
Call an Asbestos Attorney for Help
Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases should consult with an experienced asbestos attorney who specializes in cases involving asbestos exposure. These legal professionals understand the unique challenges of documenting naval service exposure and can help identify all potentially responsible parties and available compensation sources. They can also assist with VA claims procedures and coordinate legal strategies to maximize recovery while minimizing the burden on affected veterans and their families.
Time limitations apply to filing legal claims, making it important for diagnosed veterans to seek legal counsel promptly. Scheduling an appointment as quickly as possible after diagnosis allows attorneys to begin gathering service records, medical documentation, and other evidence necessary to build strong cases for compensation. With proper legal representation, veterans who served aboard the USS Ozbourn can pursue substantial benefits and compensation for their service-connected asbestos-related illnesses.
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