The USS Richard B. Anderson (DD-786) served the United States Navy from the time immediately after World War II through the Cold War, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War. When this Gearing-class destroyer was constructed, virtually all vessels were being built with asbestos, and the Richard B. Anderson was no exception: the toxic material was found throughout the ship. As a result, many of those who served aboard this vessel have suffered from serious respiratory illnesses, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, that have been directly blamed on their shipboard exposure.
About the USS Richard B. Anderson
The USS Richard B. Anderson was a Gearing-class destroyer that operated in the U.S. Navy from 1945 through 1975. The vessel underwent multiple modernizations throughout its three decades of service, including a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) upgrade that enhanced its capabilities and significantly extended its useful life.[1]
The ship was named in honor of Private First Class Richard B. Anderson, a Marine who lost his life in the battle of Kwajalein Atoll in February 1944. When a Japanese grenade landed in his foxhole, PFC Anderson selflessly absorbed the explosion with his body to protect his fellow Marines. As a result of this act of bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Remarkably, one of the USS Richard B. Anderson’s first crew members was Motor Machinist’s Mate Robert L. Anderson, Richard’s brother, who had joined the Navy in July 1942.[2]
The USS Richard B. Anderson’s keel was laid down in December 1944 at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington. She was launched in July of the following year, sponsored by Mrs. Oscar A. Anderson. She was commissioned in October 1945 under the command of Commander Hugh Q. Murray.[1]
As one of the 98 Gearing-class destroyers that were the last built for World War II, the Richard B. Anderson displaced 2,250 tons standard and measured 390 feet long with a beam of 44 feet. The ship was designed to carry approximately 336 officers and enlisted men. Its armament included six 5-inch guns, along with various anti-aircraft weapons, torpedo tubes, depth charge tracks, and projectors.[3]
How Was Asbestos Used in Building the USS Richard B. Anderson?
During the 1940s, when the Anderson was built, shipbuilders routinely incorporated asbestos in the boats’ construction. Not only did the mineral have helpful properties, but when it came to military vessels, its use was specified as a required component by the Navy, which valued it for several reasons:
- Asbestos provided exceptional thermal insulation for high-temperature machinery aboard the military ships
- It has superior fire resistance characteristics considered essential for combat vessel safety
- It has excellent electrical insulation properties
- It is extremely durable in maritime environments
- It is an effective sound dampener
- It is lighter in weight than other materials
- It was widely available and inexpensive
Though all these characteristics provided a military advantage, protecting physical and human assets, asbestos would later be revealed as posing grave health risks to all those who inhaled the particles that became airborne when the material broke down through use, regular maintenance, or damage. Once in the body, the mineral’s microscopic fibers could become permanently embedded in tissues, eventually triggering devastating illnesses decades after exposure.
The USS Richard B. Anderson’s Operational History
Immediately after completing shakedown training, the Richard B. Anderson homeported in San Diego and served as a plane guard for Essex-class carriers operating off the coast of southern California. Though personnel shortages in late 1946 temporarily stopped her from sailing, the destroyer resumed full activity by January 1947, and in February, she participated in fleet exercises near Hawaii, followed by search and rescue operations, local training exercises, and an overhaul period. In March 1947, she spent two weeks in Pearl Harbor for antisubmarine warfare exercises before continuing to the western Pacific for duty with the 7th Fleet. By April, she had arrived in Tsingtao, China, later shifting to Okinawa for additional training before returning to Chinese waters. Her duties included operations at Tsingtao and Shanghai, followed by port calls in Hong Kong and Manila.[1]
In March 1949, the ship participated in guided missile tests near the magnetic equator. Later that year, she returned to the western Pacific, operating in the Philippines and Saigon, Vietnam in 1950. Following the outbreak of the Korean War, the ship joined Task Force 77 off Korea’s east coast, serving as escort and plane guard for carriers launching strikes against North Korean and Chinese forces, infrastructure, and supply lines. Throughout the Korean conflict, the Anderson alternated between carrier screening operations, amphibious feints, antisubmarine warfare exercises, and patrol duty in the Taiwan Strait. She earned four engagement stars for her service during this period.
The rest of the 1950s saw the Richard B. Anderson alternating between western Pacific deployments and training operations on the West Coast. In July 1960, the destroyer entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for a comprehensive FRAM Mark I overhaul, and by the following May, she’d been equipped with ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) capability, DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) systems, modernized communications, and improved crew accommodations.[2]
In the 1960s, the modernized ship participated in Operation “Swordfish,” the open-ocean live firing test of the ASROC nuclear anti-submarine weapon system, antisubmarine exercises, SEATO operations, joint United States-Japanese training, and Taiwan patrol duty, all of which displayed America’s naval presence in the face of rising Cold War tensions. By August 1964, the Richard B. Anderson sailed to the waters off Vietnam and in early September, was stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin to support carrier operations.[]
The Richard B. Anderson served in Vietnam intermittently for over a decade, screening carriers and amphibious ready groups, conducting coastal surveillance, serving on picket stations, providing naval gunfire support, and participating in search and rescue operations. Between January 1966 and April 1975, she routinely operated in combat zones from the Demilitarized Zone to the Mekong Delta. As a result of her service during the conflict, her crew earned the Combat Action Ribbon five separate times, and the destroyer received the Secretary of the Navy’s Meritorious Unit Commendation three times.
During America’s final days in Vietnam in 1975, the Richard B. Anderson participated in Operation Frequent Wind, rescuing South Vietnamese boat people fleeing the advancing North Vietnamese forces. This earned the ship her third Meritorious Unit Commendation. November 1975 marked her last Pacific crossing. She was decommissioned in December in San Diego after thirty years of distinguished service. The vessel was transferred to the Inactive Ship Facility and, in June 1977, was sold to Taiwan, where she continued to serve as a destroyer until November 1999.[1]
Where was Asbestos Used Aboard the USS Richard B. Anderson?
The USS Richard B. Anderson contained asbestos materials throughout its structure and systems. While the toxic mineral was present everywhere, certain areas, duty stations, equipment, and supplies exposed crew members to particularly high concentrations of asbestos-containing materials. These included:
- Compartments housing boilers, turbines, pumps, and valves.
- Thermal insulation blankets, gaskets, and packing materials
- Steam and hot water pipes throughout the vessel were wrapped in asbestos insulation
- Wiring, switchboards, and other electrical components included asbestos for its fire-resistant and insulating properties.
- Crew quarters and common areas contained asbestos in flooring materials, ceiling panels, insulation, and fire-resistant doors.
- Fireproof protective gear worn by damage control teams incorporated asbestos for thermal protection.
Who Onboard the USS Richard B. Anderson Was at Most Risk of Mesothelioma?
While every crew member who served aboard the USS Richard B. Anderson was likely to have been exposed to asbestos, certain duties carried heightened risks based on their work environments and responsibilities:
- Machinist’s Mates worked directly with asbestos-insulated equipment in cramped engine spaces as they operated and maintained the propulsion systems.
- Boiler Technicians worked in the environments with the highest concentrations of asbestos as they operated the ship’s steam generation systems.
- Sailors responsible for emergency repairs and firefighting were likely exposed to damaged asbestos-containing materials during their duties.
- Hull Maintenance Technicians regularly encountered asbestos insulation as they performed structural repairs.
- Pipefitters routinely handled asbestos-wrapped pipes and components when working on the ship’s extensive piping systems.
- Electricians tasked with the installation and maintenance of electrical systems were frequently exposed to asbestos-containing materials.
- Civilian and military shipyard workers involved in the Anderson’s construction, FRAM modernization, and other overhauls and maintenance experienced significant exposure.
What Does Asbestos Exposure Mean for USS Richard B. Anderson Veterans
Exposure to asbestos has been linked to several serious, often terminal health conditions. Because many of these illnesses don’t show symptoms until 20 to 50 years after exposure, veterans who feel healthy today are still at risk of a diagnosis in the future. Many USS Richard B. Anderson veterans may have only recently developed symptoms related to service they completed in the 1970s.
Asbestos-related conditions affecting naval veterans include:
- Mesothelioma: An aggressive and typically fatal form of cancer that affects the lining of the cavities that hold the lungs, abdominal organs, or heart.
- Asbestosis: A chronic, progressive lung disease characterized by scarring of lung tissue and leading to breathing difficulties and reduced oxygen transfer.
- Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, especially when combined with tobacco use.
- Pleural Abnormalities: Non-malignant changes to the lung lining, including plaques, thickening, and effusions, can significantly affect respiratory function and well-being.
- Additional Malignancies: Research has connected asbestos exposure to cancers affecting the larynx, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.
These conditions are life-changing. They come with devastating medical expenses, diminished quality of life, and reduced earning capacity, and for many Navy veterans, a diagnosis has meant early death.
Is There Help Available for Veterans with Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases who served aboard the USS Richard B. Anderson or other Navy vessels have several options for compensation. They include:
- VA Benefits – The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes the link between military service and asbestos exposure and has rated mesothelioma at a 100% disability rating. Eligible veterans may receive disability compensation; medical care from physicians experienced in treating asbestos diseases at either VA treatment centers or specialized medical centers throughout the country; and other support services, including home healthcare and medical equipment. To qualify, veterans must file a claim for benefits that thoroughly documents their naval service history and the connection between their duties and their current illness. Proving that you were exposed to asbestos during the time you served can be a challenge, but an experienced asbestos attorney can help.
- Asbestos Trust Funds – Many of the asbestos product manufacturers that supplied contaminated products to the military were aware of the dangers of asbestos, but suppressed or hid the information to continue earning profits. After being ordered to pay millions of dollars to victims who successfully sued them, many filed for bankruptcy and were required to establish asbestos trust funds to compensate victims diagnosed with asbestos-related disease in the future. Altogether, these trusts hold billions of dollars, and veterans are eligible to file claims against them. Qualifying for payment requires documentation of the asbestos exposure circumstances and confirmation of a medical diagnosis of an asbestos-related condition.
- Lawsuits – Veterans can pursue civil litigation through the court system against the companies responsible for the asbestos products they were exposed to during their time of service. A personal injury lawsuit can provide compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship for your spouse. Family members who have lost a loved one to mesothelioma may be able to file wrongful death actions.
Importantly, pursuing legal action has no impact on eligibility for VA benefits, and veterans can pursue multiple compensation paths at the same time.
Combining the complexity of these processes with the physical and emotional challenges of a serious diagnosis can be overwhelming. Seeking compassionate, knowledgeable assistance from a mesothelioma attorney experienced in managing asbestos cases can help veterans navigate everything from identifying the responsible asbestos companies, to preparing all required documents by their filing deadlines, to maximizing the compensation they receive.
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