General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyard, in Groton, Connecticut, is respected for fabricating submarines, including the world’s first nuclear submarine. But throughout its history, the shipyard’s personnel were constantly exposed to asbestos from the materials they used in building and repairing the vessels, as well as from material already in place in those they maintained. Many of these workers
The Navy destroyer USS Holder (DD-819) served the United States for over thirty years, participating in operations surrounding the Cold War and interventions in the Middle East. Like almost all ships constructed in the mid-20th century, the Holder was built with asbestos, a material that is recognized today as a highly toxic carcinogen. Many of the
The USS New (DD-818) served the United States Navy for three decades, spanning the early Cold War, Middle East crises, and Vietnam conflict. Like all vessels of her generation, this Gearing-class destroyer was constructed with extensive amounts of asbestos-containing materials throughout her systems and compartments. Many who served aboard this ship have since developed mesothelioma and other illnesses caused by their exposure
The USS Corry III (DD-817) was a Navy ship built when asbestos was regularly used in the construction of Navy vessels and all kinds of ships. It was everywhere, from the floor and ceiling tiles to the equipment that powered the ships’ propulsion systems. Thousands of former crew members from ships like the USS Corry developed pleural mesothelioma,
Alfa Laval is a global leader in industrial products for heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling. The company’s history includes decades during which asbestos-containing insulation was part of many of its products. The use of this carcinogenic material has led to untold numbers of people developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other deadly diseases. Individuals sickened after handling, installing, or
The USS Dennis J. Buckley (DD-808) was a U.S. Navy ship that served with distinction from 1945 to 1983, spanning nearly four decades of service. Built when asbestos was a constant part of shipbuilding, this Gearing-class destroyer contained the toxic material throughout its structure. Today, many of those who served on the ship or who played a role in its
Boise Cascade Corporation began as a lumber company in 1957 and grew into the third-largest forest products company in the United States. Boise Cascades’s factories and mills were heavily contaminated with asbestos, and the company used the toxic material in many of the products that it sold, exposing both employees and others who used the materials to the
The USS Benner (DD-807/DDR-807) served the American Navy from the final battles of World War II through the Cold War and the Vietnam conflict. Though the destroyer earned multiple battle stars through the years and served crucial diplomatic roles and nuclear testing operations, many Navy veterans and shipyard workers associate the ship with its extensive use of asbestos,
Bird, Inc., is a historic American building materials manufacturer. With roots dating back to 1795, the company produced numerous asbestos-containing roofing and construction products that affected both the company’s workforce and countless roofing and construction professionals and consumers who used the company’s products. Many of these victims have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Bird, Inc.
The USS Higbee was a Navy vessel that sailed from the end of World War II through the Vietnam War. The ship won battle stars for her participation in naval operations in the Pacific during World War II and the Korean conflict, had a notable place in history in the Vietnam War, and ended her service as