The USS Conolly was a U.S. Navy destroyer with a two-decade record of service. Constructed in the mid-1970s, the ship was among the final warships that were built with asbestos-containing materials throughout her structure and systems. Because the ship was built within the last fifty years and sailed through 1998, Navy veterans who served aboard the ship, as well as shipyard workers involved in
The USS Comte de Grasse (DD-974) was a destroyer that served the U.S. Navy for two decades. Known as one of the Navy’s most capable destroyers of the late 20th century, the ship was built in the mid-1970s and was among the last naval vessels built using asbestos-containing materials. Veterans who served aboard this destroyer, along with shipyard
The USS Carpenter (DD-825) was a converted Gearing-class destroyer built when asbestos was a common component of naval shipbuilding. The ship contained the carcinogenic mineral throughout nearly all of its operational systems, its structure, and its most important equipment. Since that time, it’s become common knowledge that asbestos exposure causes cancer and other illnesses, resulting in sickness
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,
The USS Blandy (DD-943) was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer that served with distinction for over two decades. While the ship earned numerous honors and awards, many sailors who served aboard the Blandy have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other serious diseases due to asbestos exposure. Like many other Navy vessels built between the 1930s and 1970s, the hazardous material was
The USS Black (DD-666) was a Fletcher-class destroyer that served the United States Navy with distinction across three major conflicts—World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Though the ship’s crew earned a total of eleven battle stars over her 26 years of active service, many have paid a terrible price, suffering mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases
The USS Bigelow (DD-942) was a Naval destroyer built when America was engaged in the Cold War and asbestos was still in common use in everything from shipbuilding to construction. What we know today as a toxic material was, at the time, an integral part of electrical and piping systems, structural elements, and operational equipment. Though the
The USS Bausell (DD-845) was a Navy destroyer commissioned after World War II’s end as part of the U.S. military’s post-war rebuilding process. Built when asbestos use was considered integral to assuring ships’ integrity and safety, the Bausell had the toxic mineral included in every aspect of its design, from her operational systems to her basic infrastructure. As a
Mesothelioma researchers from the United Kingdom have made a promising discovery that may help revolutionize treatment for the rare, asbestos-related disease. As part of the ongoing IST4 multi-center phase II clinical trial, they’ve found that bacteria living in the gut – collectively known as the gut microbiota – may play a crucial role in determining
The USS Mississinewa (AO-144) was a Navy fleet oiler that provided essential fuel and supply services to allied forces during the Cold War era. Like almost all naval vessels constructed in the post-World War II period, the USS Mississinewa was built with extensive asbestos materials throughout her structure. Veteranswho served aboard the Mississinewa faced significant health risks, with many later