Orange, Texas, has been an integral part of the nation’s maritime history since 1859, when a small shipyard began building paddle-wheel steamboats there. Today, many of the original shipyards have been sold to other companies, but Orange continues to provide ships for both commercial and government markets. Many of the materials used to build ships between
Located in the city of Newport News, Virginia, the Newport News Shipyard is the nation’s largest shipyard. Today, a division of Huntington Ingalls, the company has built more than 800 ships for naval and commercial clients since its founding, including the aircraft carriers and submarines that it designs, builds, and refuels. During the time it
The U.S. Coast Guard has relied on vessels known as cutters throughout its history. These highly maneuverable ships are 65 feet in length or longer, have accommodations for crew to live aboard, and are capable of fulfilling a range of missions. Coast Guard members who were assigned to serve on or work on cutters constructed before
Patrol boats have played a significant role in America’s military history. Used by both the U.S. Navy and the Coast Guard, these small boats were valued for their ability to move quickly along coastlines and through brown water rivers. PT boat duty was known to be dangerous, but those who served on them between the
Frigates are ships that played a critical role in U.S. naval history. Though originally square-rigged sailing ships, the years surrounding World War II led to the small, quick warships being equipped with radar and sonar so that they could escort convoys and guard against enemy submarines. Through much of the 20th century, frigates were constructed using asbestos and asbestos-containing materials.
Before the 1980s, the process of making tires and other rubber products exposed thousands of industrial workers to asbestos. It was an integral component of the materials and equipment used in the process, as well as the environment in which tire and rubber companies’ employees worked. As a result, individuals in all aspects of the industry
B.F. Goodrich began as a rubber manufacturer, making several products that were contaminated with asbestos. People who were sickened by B.F. Goodrich products included company employees, consumers, and employees who worked with Goodrich’s finished goods in automotive, aerospace, and other industries. Many of those who were diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases have filed
Mechanics who maintained and repaired commercial and military planes before the 1980s were exposed to asbestos in parts and products installed in aircraft. Brake pads and heat shields were particularly dangerous, but asbestos exposure came from multiple sources, including the clothing and textiles meant to protect the workers from being burned by hot engine parts. Many of these
Fort Shafter is the headquarters of the United States Army Pacific and, at over 100 years old, is the oldest military base on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark and noted for its distinctive Palm Circle, the majority of the site was constructed in the 1940s when the
Hercules Chemical Company is a manufacturer and marketer of chemical and specialty products used by the commercial plumbing and heating industry. Some of the more-than-century-old company’s earliest products included asbestos that sickened thousands of those who used it or were exposed to it. As a result of claims filed by people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma