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 War II, the Cunningham used significant amounts of asbestos. Many veterans and shipyard workers who worked on or lived on the ship have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma that have been directly linked to exposure during their naval service.
The USS Alfred A. Cunningham and Its Namesake
The USS Alfred A. Cunningham was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer. Designated DD-752, the ship served the U.S. Navy from November 1944 through February 1971. During her long operational life, she underwent multiple modernization programs that enhanced her combat capabilities and extended her service. Unfortunately, they also added to asbestos exposure among crew members and shipyard workers who came into contact with her.
This warship was named in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Austell Cunningham. Born in 1882 in Atlanta, Georgia, Cunningham was recognized as the father of Marine Corps aviation after enlisting in a volunteer infantry regiment during the Spanish-American War and serving on occupation duty in Cuba. He cultivated his interest in aeronautics by renting aircraft and joining the local Aero Club, and in 1912, reported to the Naval Academy’s aviation camp, marking the beginning of Marine aviation.[1]
Throughout his career, Cunningham tirelessly advocated for Marine Corps aviation, helping to establish the Naval Aeronautical Station at Pensacola and becoming Naval Aviator No. 5 in 1915. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his service in World War I and left a legacy of pioneering achievement in naval aviation.[1]
Construction of the USS Alfred A. Cunningham and Its Asbestos Usage
The USS Alfred A. Cunningham was laid down in 1944 in Staten Island, New York, by the Bethlehem Steel Company. The destroyer was launched in 1944, with Mrs. Alfred A. Cunningham, the widow of Lieutenant Colonel Cunningham, serving as sponsor. Commander Floyd B.T. Myhre assumed command when the vessel was commissioned in November 1944.[1]
Like all Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers, the Cunningham displaced 2,200 tons standard, measured 376 feet 6 inches in length, with a beam of 40 feet 10 inches and a draft of 14 feet 5 inches. Powered by Babcock & Wilcox boilers, her propulsion system achieved speeds of 34.2 knots. She carried a complement of 345 officers and enlisted personnel and an armament configuration that included six 5-inch guns, twelve 40mm anti-aircraft guns, twenty 20mm anti-aircraft guns, six depth charge projectors, two depth charge tracks, and ten 21-inch torpedo tubes.[1]
During the 1940s, shipbuilders were focused on the impending war, and to protect military assets and personnel, they incorporated asbestos throughout naval vessels. Asbestos offered several important benefits:
- Superior thermal insulation for high-temperature equipment
- Exceptional fire resistance for combat vessel safety
- Outstanding electrical insulation
- Remarkable durability in harsh maritime environments
- Effective sound dampening
- Relatively lightweight compared to alternative materials
- Widespread industrial availability and low cost
While these properties all offered advantages, the microscopic structure of asbestos led to serious health hazards when the material deteriorated or was disturbed during maintenance operations. When its microscopic fibers were inhaled, they could become permanently embedded in lung tissue and surrounding membranes and trigger severe illnesses that didn’t present until decades after exposure. Though the asbestos companies supplying asbestos were increasingly aware of the dangers the material posed, its hazards were hidden from the public.
Operational Service History of the USS Alfred A. Cunningham
World War II and the Immediate Postwar Period
After her shakedown training near Bermuda, the USS Alfred A. Cunningham returned to New York and spent three months in the Chesapeake Bay. After a brief yard period for repairs and alterations at Norfolk Navy Yard, the ship sailed to Guantanamo Bay and Panama, joining Task Group (TG) 12.4 and sailing for the western Pacific, where she screened carriers launching air strikes against Japanese-held Wake Island before arriving at Leyte in June, then leaving for Okinawa, where she conducted an unsuccessful attack on a suspected submarine. [1]
Until the end of hostilities in 1945, she performed patrol, escort, and screening duties, and after Japan’s surrender, stayed in the Far East, operating off China’s coast between the Yellow Sea and South China Sea. The ship provided escort services and conducted anti-smuggling patrols between Korea and Japan, then returned to the United States in 1946, entering reserve status at San Diego in May 1947. She was decommissioned in August 1949.
Korean War Service
After North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, the Alfred A. Cunningham rejoined the Pacific Fleet and deployed to the western Pacific to serve with Task Force (TF) 77 off the Korean coast. In 1951, she conducted a night shore bombardment mission against targets near Tanchon on Korea’s east coast, firing 90 rounds of 5-inch ammunition at railroad tracks, grade crossings, a tunnel, and roadways. In 1952, the ship came under heavy fire from North Korean shore batteries with enemy guns registering four direct hits, wounding 13 crew members and causing significant damage. Despite her battle wounds, emergency repairs allowed the Cunningham to continue combat operations. In late November, the destroyer arrived in Long Beach, California. She made additional Western Pacific deployments between 1953 and 1957.[1]
Cold War and Vietnam Operations
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Cunningham continued regular deployments to the western Pacific. She participated in numerous exercises and goodwill visits, and 1961, entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul. This comprehensive modernization program likely disturbed significant amounts of existing asbestos materials throughout the vessel.
From 1962 through 1965, the USS Alfred A. Cunningham alternated between local operations off the California coast and western Pacific deployments. She conducted training exercises, participated in combined operations with allied navies, and patrolled the Taiwan Strait. Then, in 1965, the Cunningham deployed to Southeast Asian waters to join Task Force 77 for patrol and surveillance duties off North Vietnam’s coast and in the Gulf of Tonkin. During subsequent deployments between 1966 and 1969, she conducted plane guard duties, search and rescue operations, naval gunfire support missions along the Vietnamese coast, and participated in Operation “Sea Dragon,” a logistics interdiction effort in North Vietnam’s coastal waters.
The Cunningham began 1970 in Okinawan waters, then completed carrier screening duties with USS Constellation (CVA-64) on “Yankee Station.” After returning to Long Beach, she conducted local operations and a midshipman training cruise before preparing for inactivation. After unloading all of her ammunition at Seal Beach, California, the ship was decommissioned in 1971 and placed in reserve. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in February 1974 and met her final fate in October 1979, when she was sunk as a target off the southern California coast.
The USS Alfred A. Cunningham earned one battle star for her World War II service, six battle stars for Korean War operations, and seven battle stars for Vietnam service.
How Asbestos Was Used Throughout the USS Alfred A. Cunningham
Like all destroyers constructed during the 1940s, the USS Alfred A. Cunningham contained extensive asbestos materials throughout her structure. While asbestos was present shipwide, certain areas contained particularly hazardous concentrations of these materials:
- The ship’s propulsion spaces contained asbestos insulation surrounding boilers, turbines, pumps, and valves. Thermal insulation blankets, gaskets, and packing materials also contained high percentages of asbestos.
- Steam lines, exhaust systems, and condensers required heat-resistant insulation, which was predominantly made of asbestos materials.
- Wiring, switchboards, and other electrical components used asbestos for its fire-resistant and insulating properties.
- Crew accommodations, including living and eating spaces, contained asbestos in floor tiles, ceiling materials, wall insulation, and fire-resistant doors.
- Protective gear used by damage control teams often incorporated asbestos for its thermal protection.
The Cunningham’s 1961 FRAM modernization at Long Beach Naval Shipyard would have included removing old asbestos materials and replacing them with new ones. This action would have involved a significant disturbance of the easily damaged material, sending it airborne where it could be inhaled by shipyard workers and crew members.
Who Was at Most Risk of Asbestos Exposure
While all crew members aboard the USS Alfred A. Cunningham were potentially exposed to asbestos, certain responsibilities led to significantly higher risks based on their occupational exposure and duties. These included:
- Machinist’s Mates who operated and maintained boilers, turbines, and other aspects of the ship’s propulsion systems
- Boiler Technicians who managed the ship’s steam generation systems and worked in environments where asbestos concentrations were highest.
- Damage Controlmen were responsible for emergency repairs, including those conducted during combat damage in Korea. Their work frequently disturbed asbestos-containing materials.
- Hull Maintenance Technicians conducted structural repairs and regularly encountered asbestos insulation throughout the vessel.
- Pipefitters worked with piping systems and routinely handled asbestos-wrapped pipes and components.
- Electricians installed and maintained electrical systems, which often required interaction with asbestos-containing materials.
- Shipyard workers came from both civilian and military backgrounds and were exposed to asbestos during the ship’s construction, FRAM modernization, and subsequent overhauls.
Destroyers had confined environments with limited ventilation that magnified exposure risks. Asbestos fibers could remain airborne for hours, circulating through compartments and potentially exposing even crew members who did not work directly with the toxic mineral.
Health Implications for USS Alfred A. Cunningham Veterans
Asbestos exposure can trigger terminal or disabling health conditions, many of which don’t show symptoms until 20 to 50 years after exposure. This extended latency period means that many veterans who served on the USS Alfred A. Cunningham are only now developing symptoms related to their long-ago service.
Asbestos-related conditions that can affect naval veterans include:
- Mesothelioma: An aggressive, fatal form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
- Asbestosis: A chronic, progressive lung disease characterized by scarring of lung tissue. It leads to breathing difficulties and reduced oxygen transfer.
- Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure substantially increases lung cancer risk, especially for those whose exposure was combined with tobacco use.
- Pleural Abnormalities: Non-cancerous conditions affecting the lung lining. They can include pleural plaques, pleural thickening, and pleural effusions, all of which can impair respiratory function.
- Additional Malignancies: Research has linked asbestos exposure to cancers affecting the larynx, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.
Asbestos-related conditions result in significant medical expenses, diminished quality of life, reduced earning capacity, and premature mortality for affected veterans and their families.
Compensation Options for Veterans with Asbestos-Related Illness
Veterans who served aboard the USS Alfred A. Cunningham and who’ve been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases have multiple ways to pursue compensation.
VA Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs has acknowledged the connection between military service and asbestos exposure, as well as its responsibility for those who’ve been impacted by it. Veterans recognized as eligible for benefits may receive:
- Disability compensation (with mesothelioma typically qualifying for a 100% disability rating)
- Specialized healthcare from physicians experienced in treating asbestos diseases
- Support services, including home healthcare and medical equipment
To qualify, veterans must prove the link between their naval service history and their illness.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Many asbestos product manufacturers have established bankruptcy trust funds for the specific benefit of asbestos exposure victims. These trusts collectively manage billions of dollars. Veterans can file claims against funds established by companies that no longer exist by providing:
- Documentation of asbestos exposure circumstances
- Medical diagnosis of an asbestos-related condition
Legal Claims
Veterans can pursue litigation against the asbestos companies responsible for manufacturing or supplying contaminated products to their naval vessels. Options include:
- Personal injury lawsuits for medical expenses, pain, and suffering
- Wrongful death actions for families who have lost loved ones
Importantly, pursuing legal action does not impact VA benefit eligibility, and veterans can pursue multiple compensation paths simultaneously.
Filing for compensation for an asbestos-related disease can be a complicated, stressful process, but these processes can be made much easier with the help of specialized legal professionals. Mesothelioma attorneys experienced in asbestos cases can help veterans navigate documentation requirements, identify responsible parties, meet filing deadlines, and maximize compensation during this challenging period.
References
View All References
