The USS Wiltsie (DD-716) was a Gearing-class destroyer that served the United States Navy through numerous deployments across the Pacific. Like other naval vessels of the era, the USS Wiltsie’s construction relied on substantial quantities of asbestos and asbestos-based materials, putting those who served on her at risk of serious health conditions including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-linked diseases.
About the USS Wiltsie
The USS Wiltsie represented one of the 98 final destroyers commissioned after World War II’s conclusion. These Gearing-class vessels improved upon the preceding Allen M. Sumner design, featuring a 14-foot hull extension that enhanced fuel storage, extended operational range, and provided superior compartmentalization. Though naval planners originally ordered 152 ships of this class, production limitations resulted in just 98 being completed. Throughout their service lives, these vessels underwent extensive modifications to adapt to evolving mission requirements, including comprehensive anti-submarine warfare enhancements and radar picket system installations.[1]
Throughout its operational history, the USS Wiltsie was assigned multiple and diverse responsibilities. During 1947, the crew supported operations in Qingdao, China, protecting American interests amid escalating tensions between communist insurgents and Nationalist forces. When conflict erupted on the Korean peninsula, the Wiltsie was deployed as part of early reinforcement efforts, operating with Task Force 77. After Korea, the ship continued patrolling strategic waters surrounding Taiwan and conducted regular presence missions throughout Southeast Asia.[2]
In 1961-1962, the Wiltsie underwent comprehensive modernization through the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. This extensive overhaul delivered significant enhancements including an enclosed bridge structure, helicopter landing deck with hangar facilities, upgraded Mk. 32 triple-mounted torpedo systems, advanced ASROC anti-submarine missiles, and state-of-the-art radar and sonar equipment. Throughout the Vietnam conflict, the Wiltsie executed critical search and rescue operations that recovered multiple downed aviators while also delivering precision naval gunfire support against enemy positions.[2]
The vessel stretched 390 feet in length with a 41-foot beam, capable of maintaining speeds exceeding 30 knots. Its propulsion system consisted of four high-pressure boilers manufactured by Babcock & Wilcox or Foster Wheeler coupled to dual General Electric steam turbines—components now recognized as being significant sources of asbestos exposure for shipboard personnel. The Wiltsie displaced 3,460 tons fully loaded and accommodated 336 officers and enlisted sailors, ultimately serving as home to thousands of naval personnel throughout its operational lifetime.[1]
Construction and Maintenance of the Wiltsie
Construction of the USS Wiltsie began on March 13, 1945, at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company facilities in Port Newark, New Jersey. The ship was named for Captain Irving Day Wiltsie, who commanded the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-62) in the autumn of 1943. The ship was torpedoed in November, suffering tremendous structural damage and fires. She sank with 644 officers and men onboard.[2]
Captain Wiltsie’s namesake destroyer launched on August 31, 1945, with his widow serving as sponsor. The Navy formally commissioned the vessel on January 12, 1946, during ceremonies at New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn.[2]
The most significant technical upgrade during the ship’s service life occurred during its extensive FRAM overhaul at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. This comprehensive modernization delivered numerous enhancements including the enclosed bridge structure, helicopter facilities, advanced weapons systems, and modernized electronics suite. The refit also substantially improved crew accommodations for both officers and enlisted personnel.[2]
After thirty years of distinguished service, the Navy removed the USS Wiltsie from its active inventory on January 23, 1976, transferring ownership to Pakistan through a purchase agreement. Throughout its operational history, the USS Wiltsie earned nine battle stars for Korean War operations and seven additional battle stars for Vietnam service—a testament to its significant combat contributions.[2]
Operational Timeline and Deployment History
The USS Wiltsie began her naval career with a shakedown evaluation cruise to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before traversing the Panama Canal on July 8, 1946, and continuing to San Diego. The ship’s first major deployment came in early 1947 when it sailed to the western Pacific for operations around Qingdao, China. There, the crew protected American interests during the growing civil conflict between communist forces and the Nationalist government. By June 1947, the Wiltsie relocated to Sasebo, Japan, supporting occupation operations.[2]
When North Korean forces invaded South Korea in 1950, the Wiltsie quickly deployed to the region, arriving in August to assist with troop embarkation operations for Republic of Korea forces. On September 15, 1950, the destroyer participated in the pivotal Inchon landing operation, screening aircraft carriers of Task Force 77 as their planes struck enemy positions supporting the amphibious assault. Throughout the Korean conflict, the Wiltsie provided naval gunfire support for United Nations ground forces, screened carrier strike groups, and maintained a patrol presence in the strategically significant Taiwan Strait.[2]
Between 1953 and 1961, the Wiltsie conducted seven separate Western Pacific deployments. Each rotation included extensive training exercises and patrol assignments throughout East Asian waters, operating near Japan, Korea, and Okinawa. Port visits regularly included Yokosuka, Kobe, Sasebo, Hong Kong, and various Philippine harbors including Olongapo and Manila.[2]
As American involvement in Vietnam intensified, the Wiltsie was redirected to support the USS Coral Sea and the USS Hancock during air strikes against Viet Cong positions in 1965. The destroyer spent nearly 70 days operating continuously in Vietnamese waters, serving multiple functions including anti-submarine screen vessel, aircraft carrier plane guard, and forward early warning picket. Later deployments involved direct gunfire support missions targeting enemy supply caches and troop concentrations.[2]
From 1966 through 1967, the ship maintained a station on the northern search and rescue (SAR) patrol area approximately 50 miles east of Haiphong harbor, standing ready to recover downed pilots. During these deployments, the ship’s crew successfully rescued many aviators from hostile waters.[2]
The Wiltsie’s Vietnam service continued through the early 1970s with missions providing naval artillery support for South Vietnamese and allied ground operations. The Wiltsie also conducted coastal surveillance to intercept waterborne logistics vessels supplying enemy forces. During one particularly intensive period from August through November 1972, the destroyer fired thousands of 5-inch shells supporting operations across multiple combat zones.[2]
In February 1972, Navy planners initially chose the Wiltsie for reassignment to Naval Reserve training duties based in San Francisco, but instead, she was sent back to Southeast Asia for her nineteenth Western Pacific deployment. After returning from this final combat tour, the ship finally returned to its anticipated Naval Reserve training role, operating from San Francisco and embarking reserve personnel for training exercises along the West Coast and Hawaii until she was decommissioned in 1976.[2]
Asbestos Utilization Aboard USS Wiltsie
The extensive presence of asbestos materials throughout the USS Wiltsie reflected standard shipbuilding practices between 1930 and 1980, particularly during the World War II era. Unaware that it was carcinogenic, Naval administrators required the toxic materials be included in its ships, valuing it for its exceptional heat resistance and fire protection properties, all without adding significant weight. These were important considerations for combat vessels, and its affordability and easy availability made it especially attractive. Unfortunately, the manufacturers who supplied the asbestos-containing materials to the military did so while receiving mounting evidence of its health hazards. Out of a negligent focus on their profits rather than the health of people, many made the conscious decision not to communicate its dangers to the military decision-makers who were prioritizing thermal protection for both personnel and critical systems.
Asbestos was found in hundreds of applications throughout the USS Wiltsie, including:
- Engineering Spaces: The highest concentration occurred in propulsion areas including engine and boiler compartments, where asbestos insulated high-temperature equipment and provided critical fire protection.
- Safety Equipment: Protective clothing and firefighting gear contained asbestos fibers that protected sailors during emergency response operations.
- Thermal Systems: Insulation that wrapped the ship’s extensive piping network contained significant asbestos content.
- Infrastructure Components: Numerous shipboard elements including gaskets, valve packing, flooring materials, and bulkhead insulation incorporated asbestos materials.
Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure on The USS Wiltsie?
Crew members serving aboard the USS Wiltsie faced significant asbestos exposure throughout the vessel. The widespread use of asbestos-containing materials meant that any disturbance—whether from maintenance activities, battle damage, or normal vibration—had the potential to release microscopic fibers, often into confined shipboard areas. Once airborne, these nearly invisible particles were easily inhaled or ingested, where they remained embedded in cells. The same characteristic strength and durability that fortified shipboard components meant that fibers didn’t break down in the body. Instead, they triggered inflammatory responses, leading eventually to tissue scarring, cellular mutations, and serious medical conditions that only emerged decades after the ship’s personnel were exposed.
While all shipboard personnel faced some level of exposure risk, the sailors who directly handled asbestos-laden parts and materials in the poorly ventilated engine rooms and machinery spaces within the Wiltsie suffered particularly intense exposure. This high-risk group included boiler technicians, machinist’s mates, damage control specialists, and maintenance personnel, all of whom routinely disturbed asbestos materials or were exposed to them during repair operations.
Legal action seeking compensation for asbestos-related illnesses has been successfully filed by many veterans who served aboard the Wiltsie and other destroyer-class vessels of the era. Among them was William Wangen, who served onboard the USS Wiltsie from July 1950 to May 1954. Mr. Wangen’s on the ship included ship maintenance and repair, which put him into immediate contact with asbestos-containing products. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2007 and filed suit against multiple asbestos manufacturers and others responsible for supplying the toxic material to the ship.[3]
Compensation Options for USS Wiltsie Veterans
Navy veterans who served aboard the USS Wiltsie and shipyard workers involved in her construction, overhaul, or repair operations were all at risk of significant asbestos exposure that could lead to serious health complications. Veterans suffering from asbestos-related conditions have several options for both compensation and medical assistance for these service-connected illnesses.
Submitting a properly documented claim through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can provide important benefits, including comprehensive medical treatment coverage at VA facilities or specialized treatment centers throughout the country focusing on asbestos-related diseases. The VA recognizes mesothelioma as a fully disabling condition, which qualifies affected veterans for maximum disability compensation rates.
Beyond VA benefits, affected veterans can pursue legal action against the companies that manufactured and supplied the asbestos materials to their vessels. These lawsuits often result in sizeable settlements or court awards. Additionally, many asbestos product manufacturers have established dedicated asbestos trust funds for victims after their asbestos liabilities forced them into bankruptcy. These trust funds provide an alternative for those affected by asbestos who choose not to engage with the legal system.
After establishing a treatment plan with their medical team, veterans suffering from asbestos-related health issues stemming from service aboard the USS Wiltsie should speak with an asbestos attorney to explore their options. These professionals have expertise in military asbestos cases and can answer all your questions. Their guidance will help with the complicated process of documenting exposure history, identifying responsible manufacturers based on service timelines, navigating VA claims procedures, and pursuing legal actions against the companies responsible for your pain.
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