Commissioned in 1945, the USS Comstock (LSD-19) was a dock landing ship of the amphibious type. Built at a time when U.S. Navy ships commonly included asbestos, the Comstock exposed many veterans to this harmful mineral. Some later received a diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer.
Was Asbestos Used on Navy Ships?
From the 1930s through the 1970s, asbestos was heavily used on Navy ships like the Comstock. It was only in the ’70s that the Navy began to remove or secure asbestos that posed a risk to those serving on ships.
There were several reasons the USS Comstock and other amphibious vessels had asbestos: it insulated effectively, was inexpensive, could be molded to tight spaces, and provided valuable fireproofing.
About the USS Comstock
The USS Comstock was an amphibious dock landing ship in the U.S. Navy, belonging to the Casa Grande class of amphibious ships.[1] Casa Grande ships were built during World War II for both the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy.
The class was to have nineteen ships, but only seventeen were constructed. The Royal Navy ordered seven Casa Grande ships but only received four. The Comstock remained a U.S. ship.
When at capacity, the Comstock displaced nearly 8,000 tons, was 457 feet long and could carry various combinations of landing craft. She was also armed with several gun mounts and could carry 17 officers and 237 enlisted men. The ship was powered and propelled by steam turbines, twin propellers, and two Babcock and Wilcox steam boilers.
Ordered in 1943, the Comstock was laid down on January 3, 1945, at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Virginia.
She launched on April 28, 1945, and was commissioned on July 2, 1945, under the command of Lieutenant Commander J.C. Rochester.
The name for the ship came from Nevada’s Comstock Lode, one of the richest deposits of precious metals ever found. It was the first U.S. ship named for the lode, which was discovered in 1859.[2]
The USS Comstock in Active Service
The Comstock was not ready until nearly the end of World War II, but she played an important role after the war and in conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, earning several service stars and other honors.
- Her first deployment was to Okinawa, where she assisted in events related to the post-war occupation. She served in the Pacific Fleet until 1946, at which time she returned to the U.S. and participated in training in Hawaii until July 1947.
- In 1948, the Comstock became part of atomic weapons tests and then served in various capacities along the U.S. coast until the start of the Korean War. She supported the invasion of Inchon in 1950 and helped with salvage and repairs. She also supported the invasion of Wonsan and several minesweeping operations.
- In 1951, she rescued the survivors of the mined and sunk USS Partridge. After the war, she assisted in evacuating civilians from North Vietnam and participated in more atomic weapons tests.
- During the 1960s, Comstock deployed multiple times to the western Pacific to support operations during the Vietnam War. She participated in campaigns, including the Vietnamese Advisory Campaign, the Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase II, and the Tet Counter Offensive, among others.
- Her actions in Korea and Vietnam earned the ship several medals, including the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal, and the China Service Medal.
The U.S. Navy decommissioned the Comstock on April 20, 1970, although she was not struck until June 30, 1976. Since the ship was still in good shape, she was sold to Taiwan, which took possession in 1984. She served there as the ROCS Chung Cheng and was decommissioned again in 2012 before being sunk to become an artificial reef in 2015.
Where Was Asbestos on the USS Comstock?
Hundreds of components of ships like the Comstock are known to have contained asbestos, from the smallest gaskets to entire lengths of pipe insulation:
- The boilers and turbines, which generated so much heat, contained a lot of asbestos.
- Pipes insulated with the material ran through all parts of the ships, including the mess and sleeping quarters.
- Other asbestos-containing components included firefighting gear, gunner’s protective equipment, like gloves, ropes, deck matting, spray insulation, gaskets, valves, seals, and many other components and parts, both large and small.
These uses of asbestos proved to be a risk for the men who served on the Comstock, causing exposure and, in some veterans, real asbestos illnesses later in life.
Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure on the USS Comstock?
Asbestos materials can release harmful fibers through routine maintenance or operation of equipment when workers make repairs or upgrades. It can also happen because of normal wear and tear over time or when an accident damages materials with asbestos.
This means that anyone who served on a ship like the Comstock could have been exposed to asbestos fibers. The enclosed spaces on ships with minimal ventilation made exposure riskier than in other settings.
Those most at risk worked in the engine, boiler, and turbine rooms. These rooms had a lot of asbestos and also poor ventilation, which increased the risk. Other roles on Navy ships like the Comstock that put people at greater risk of asbestos exposure include:
- Machinists
- Pipefitters
- Insulators
- Firefighters
- Gunners
- Electricians
Shipyard workers who constructed and repaired Navy vessels also faced serious risks of exposure.
How Did Asbestos on the Comstock Harm Veterans?
Asbestos exposure is an issue wherever this mineral is found because the tiny fibers that can easily come loose from it can be inhaled and ingested, causing damage to tissues over the years and decades. Any asbestos material poses a threat if the fibers are exposed.
One Comstock veteran filed a claim through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after working directly with the turbines, steam generators, steam evaporators, and steam boilers in the engine room.
He testified to being around asbestos for nearly two years of his service on the Comstock from 1961 to 1963. He later developed respiratory illnesses blamed on that exposure.[3]
Getting Benefits and Compensation as a Comstock Veteran
If you or a loved one served in the Navy and has mesothelioma, you may be entitled to certain benefits. These include free medical care at VA facilities. Those in Boston and Los Angeles give veterans access to mesothelioma specialists.
Veterans can claim disability benefits from the VA, including significant compensation. The VA disability rating for mesothelioma is 100%, so you might be entitled to maximum monthly compensation.
Some veterans also choose to take private legal action. Veterans cannot sue the military, but they can file lawsuits against companies that supplied their vessels with asbestos materials.
If those companies went bankrupt, there is also the option to make a claim with an asbestos trust fund. Most of these companies that filed for bankruptcy were required to set up funds to compensate victims.
Lawsuits have a statute of limitations, so don’t wait to contact an asbestos law firm. They can review your case for free, give you options for seeking compensation, and even help you file for VA benefits.
