The USS Bache (DD-470) was a Fletcher-class destroyer that served during World War II, the Cold War, and Vietnam. Though the ship earned eight battle stars for her Pacific theater service and two campaign stars for Vietnam operations, the pride felt by crewmembers was offset by concerns about asbestos. Many who served on the Bache were later diagnosed
The destroyer USS Ault (DD-698) served the United States for nearly three decades, through World War II, Mediterranean deployments, Korean War service, and Vietnam conflict missions. Like virtually all naval vessels constructed before the mid-1970s, the Ault’s environment was filled with asbestos-containing materials, resulting in many former Ault crew members being diagnosed with mesothelioma or other severe asbestos-related illnesses. About
The USS Arnold J. Isbell (DD-869) was a Navy destroyer that sailed for the United States for nearly three decades. Serving from 1946 to 1974, her career included Korean War and Cold War operations and the Vietnam conflict. Like almost all Navy ships built before the mid-1970s, the Isbell’s construction used asbestos materials throughout her systems and structure. Today,
The USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) exemplified American naval superiority across three major conflicts during her nearly thirty-year career from 1944 to 1973. This Fletcher-class destroyer served with distinction in multiple World War II Pacific campaigns, Korean War operations, Cold War tensions, and Vietnam combat duty, but her history also includes exposing thousands of Navy
The USS Alfred A. Cunningham (DD-752) served the United States Navy for over 25 years, from her commissioning in late 1944 until her decommissioning in 1971. This Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer carried out numerous combat missions spanning World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Vietnam War. Like most naval ships built during the years surrounding World
The USS Abbot (DD-629) was a Fletcher-class destroyer that distinguished itself through two decades of naval service spanning World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Cold War era. The Abbot played a pivotal role in modern American naval history, transitioning from wartime engagement to peacetime deterrence. Like all naval vesselsconstructed during this period, the vessel
Goulds Pumps’ history as a manufacturer of industrial pumps dates back to the 1840s, when it first began producing wooden pumps. Over the years, the company began incorporating asbestos in many of its products to add strength. While the company’s pumps no longer contain this hazardous material, countless workers experienced significant occupational asbestos exposure from working with
Federal regulators have requested a stay of litigation regarding their recent asbestos ban as they reassess the landmark decision announced in March 2024, leaving mesothelioma advocates concerned that recent progress may be reversed. Though that litigation on the Environmental Protection Agency’s ban was pending in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, there are fears that
The USS Rich (DD-820) was a Navy destroyer that spent three decades supporting American objectives. The vessel played a role in many important moments, from the Suez Crisis to the Cuban Missile Crisis to the Apollo space missions. Like almost all ships of her time, the Rich was built with substantial quantities of asbestos, the carcinogenic
Gardner-Denver manufactures equipment for pump systems, compression technology, and fluid control. For much of its more than 150-year history, the company used asbestos in many of its products, leading to countless individuals breathing in the mineral’s fibers and being diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other life-threatening diseases. People who were harmed after working with, installing, or servicing