The destroyer USS Ault (DD-698) served the United States for nearly three decades, through World War II, Mediterranean deployments, Korean War service, and Vietnam conflict missions. Like virtually all naval vessels constructed before the mid-1970s, the Ault’s environment was filled with asbestos-containing materials, resulting in many former Ault crew members being diagnosed with mesothelioma or other severe asbestos-related illnesses.
About the USS Ault
The USS Ault was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer carrying the hull designation DD-698. Between her commissioning in May 1944 through her decommissioning in July 1973, the ship underwent several modernization programs, including a comprehensive Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul in 1962 that upgraded her combat systems and extended her service life. During her distinguished service, the Ault earned five battle stars for World War II operations and two additional battle stars for Vietnam service.
The Ship’s Namesake
The warship was named in memory of Commander William Bowen Ault, a naval aviator who demonstrated exceptional courage during World War II. Commander Ault was air group commander on the USS Lexington and played a crucial role in the March 1942 strikes against Japanese installations at Lae and Salamaua, gathering vital intelligence that ensured mission success.[1]
During the important Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, Commander Ault led airstrikes against Japanese carriers Shoho and Shokaku. After being wounded and running low on fuel after a successful attack, he tried to return to Lexington, unaware that the carrier had sustained fatal damage. His final radio transmissions were remarkably confident and displayed tremendous patriotism and dedication, but he was never heard from again, and neither his plane nor his body was ever recovered. In recognition of his valor and leadership, Commander Ault received the posthumous award of the Navy Cross.[1]
The USS Ault’s Specifications
The USS Ault was laid down in November 1943 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. The destroyer was launched in March 1944, with Mrs. Margaret U. Ault, Commander Ault’s widow, serving as sponsor. Commander Joseph C. Wylie assumed command when the vessel was commissioned in May 1944.[2]
The Ault was one of the highly regarded Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers. Supporting a complement of 345 officers and enlisted personnel, the ship displaced 2,200 tons, measured 376 feet 6 inches in length with a beam of 40 feet 10 inches, and had a draft of 14 feet 5 inches. The propulsion system, powered by General Electric turbines, generated speeds of 34.2 knots. Her armament configuration included six 5-inch guns, twelve 40mm anti-aircraft guns, eleven 20mm anti-aircraft guns, two depth charge tracks, six depth charge projectors, and ten 21-inch torpedo tubes.[1]
Operational Service Record
World War II Pacific Operations
Following a shakedown in the Caribbean, the USS Ault departed New York in September 1944, transited the Panama Canal, and arrived at Pearl Harbor in September. After intensive training in Hawaiian waters, she joined Vice Admiral John S. McCain’s Fast Carrier Task Force in December 1944, reporting to Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan.[2]
In early January 1945, the Ault participated in major carrier strikes against targets on Luzon and Formosa, then swept ahead of Task Force 38 into the South China Sea. She supported strikes against Camranh Bay, Hong Kong, Hainan, Swatow, and the Formosa Strait before returning to Ulithi in January, then in February, participated in diversionary strikes against Formosa, Luzon, and the Japanese mainland and provided air cover for Iwo Jima operations.
In March, she raided the Tokyo area and Okinawa, facing intensive kamikaze attacks and shooting down her first two enemy aircraft. Through April and May, she continued screening operations while facing relentless suicide attacks, successfully shooting down multiple kamikazes while rescuing 29 survivors from the Bunker Hill.
The Ault continued combat operations against the Japanese islands until Japan’s surrender, anchoring near the USS Missouri during the formal surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay.
Post-War Mediterranean and Training Operations
After returning to the United States in January 1946, Ault was overhauled in Boston before serving as a Naval Reserve training ship in New Orleans from 1947 to 1949. Her deployments took her throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, visiting ports in Cuba, Jamaica, Panama, Haiti, Mexico, and Nicaragua.[2]
In September 1949, she deployed to the Mediterranean for her first Sixth Fleet tour, participating in tactical exercises including a simulated assault on Cyprus. She visited ports in Sardinia, France, Greece, and Cyprus before touring the British Isles and returning to Norfolk in January 1950.
Korean War Reactivation
The outbreak of the Korean War saw the Ault recommissioned under Commander Harry Marvin-Smith. After refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, she conducted antisubmarine warfare exercises, then made another Mediterranean deployment in 1951-1952.
In November 1953, Ault left Norfolk for an around-the-world cruise, arriving at Yokosuka, Japan, in December to serve with the Seventh Fleet. However, her deployment was interrupted in December 1953, when she collided with the USS Haynsworth during ASW exercises in the Sea of Japan. With part of her bow torn off, she needed extensive repairs before she could continue her westward journey home through the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean.[2]
FRAM Modernization and Vietnam Service
In June 1962, the Ault entered the Boston Naval Shipyard for a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul that both extended her service life by eight years and enhanced her anti-submarine capabilities. Her 40mm and 20mm gun mounts were removed, and her after deck was converted to a helicopter flight deck to accommodate DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) operations.
Following FRAM completion in February 1963, Ault became the first destroyer to carry DASH drones to Europe. After changing her home port to Mayport, Florida, she conducted extensive training operations in the Caribbean and Atlantic.
In February 1967, Ault deployed to Vietnam. She participated in Operation Sea Dragon, conducting offensive operations against North Vietnamese coastal targets, and provided gunfire support in South Vietnam. At one point, she completed a three-week assignment in which she was the only destroyer covering the coast from the Mekong Delta to Vung Tau; she fired over 6,000 rounds of 5-inch ammunition in support of ground operations.[2]
Final Years and Decommissioning
After returning from Vietnam in September 1967, Ault continued Mediterranean deployments and NATO exercises through 1969. She was designated a Naval Reserve training ship in January 1970 and relocated to Galveston, Texas, to train Houston naval reservists. For the next three years, she conducted training cruises in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean before her final voyage to Mayport for decommissioning in July 1973, marking the end of 29 years of service.
Asbestos Distribution Throughout the USS Ault
As with every destroyer constructed during the 1940s, the USS Ault had asbestos-containing materials woven throughout nearly every aspect of her structure. While the toxic mineral’s fibers contaminated the entire vessel, specific areas had especially concentrated levels of hazardous materials. These included:
- The ship’s machinery compartments contained dangerous levels of asbestos from insulation that surrounded steam generators, power plants, mechanical equipment, and pressure systems. Heat-resistant wrapping, sealing compounds, and protective coverings routinely incorporated asbestos.
- Steam and water distribution networks running throughout the warship were covered with asbestos-based wrapping or spray-applied insulation designed to manage extreme temperatures.
- The ship’s power and communications infrastructure relied on cables, switching equipment, and related hardware, all of which were insulated with asbestos for its heat-resistant properties.
- Crew members’ and officers’ dining facilities and berthing compartments were constructed using asbestos flooring materials, overhead structures, barrier insulation, and fire-prevention barriers.
- Emergency response equipment and safety apparatus used by firefighting and damage control teams regularly featured asbestos components.
During the Ault’s comprehensive FRAM upgrade at Boston Naval Shipyard from 1962-1963, shipyard workers stripped away decades-old asbestos components and replaced them with more modern systems that still contained asbestos. This process dispersed countless toxic fibers throughout the work environment, creating inhalation hazards for both civilian shipyard employees and naval personnel.
Who Was Most Vulnerable to Asbestos on the USS Ault
Though every sailor and officer on the USS Ault had the potential of being exposed to asbestos while aboard the ship, certain crew members were at greater danger due to their assigned duties in contaminated areas. The people who directly interacted with the hazardous material regularly included:
Engineering Personnel: Crew members responsible for the propulsion system operation and maintenance worked hands-on with asbestos-wrapped machinery in environments with poor ventilation and little space.
Steam System Operators: Specialists overseeing steam production facilities worked in the spaces where the vessel’s most concentrated levels of asbestos were found.
Emergency Repair Teams: Personnel assigned to complete urgent maintenance work frequently manipulated, removed, and replaced asbestos-containing components during their work.
Structural Maintenance Crews: Workers performing hull and framework repairs after combat damage consistently worked with asbestos-based insulation materials and asbestos that had been torn, creating clouds of asbestos dust in the area.
Plumbing Specialists: Plumbers and pipefitters who serviced or maintained the ship’s complex piping networks regularly manipulated asbestos-coated conduits and fittings.
Electrical Technicians: Personnel installing and servicing power systems were constantly exposed to asbestos-containing components.
Shipyard Workers: Civilian and military staff participating in the Ault’s construction, major overhauls, repairs, and modernization faced heightened exposure during renovation projects.
Medical Impact of Asbestos on USS Ault Crew Members
Inhaling or ingesting asbestos has been linked to multiple severe, sometimes terminal medical conditions. Mesothelioma is the most devastating of these ailments. This lethal malignancy develops silently for two to five decades following exposure. While many crew members who served in the ship’s earlier years succumbed to asbestos-related disease, there are more who served USS Ault veterans who served in Vietnam who still live with the potential of a diagnosis.
The asbestos-related health problems most commonly seen in Navy veterans include:
Mesothelioma: A rare and fatal form of cancer that attacks the lining of the cavities that hold the lungs, abdominal organs, or heart. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively triggered by inhaling or ingesting asbestos.
Asbestosis: A persistent, degenerative respiratory condition characterized by scarring of the lung tissue that impairs breathing capacity and oxygen circulation.
Pulmonary Carcinoma: Asbestos dramatically elevates the risk of lung cancer, especially when combined with cigarette smoking.
Pleural Disorders: Non-malignant lung membrane conditions, including calcium deposits, membrane thickening, and fluid accumulation that compromise the ability to breathe.
Secondary Cancers: Scientific studies have connected asbestos exposure to malignancies of the throat, digestive system, and other organs.
These medical conditions are life-changing. They come with devastating medical bills, diminished quality of life, limited income potential, and shortened lifespans, as well as pain and suffering for those affected and their loved ones.
Resources for Veterans Facing Asbestos-Related Conditions
It is natural for former USS Ault service members who’ve been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses to feel hopeless, but there are multiple paths for getting financial assistance, medical treatment, and accountability from the asbestos companies whose negligence led to your illness.
Department of Veterans Affairs Support
The VA has acknowledged the link between military duty and asbestos illnesses. Qualified veterans can be approved for:
- Monthly disability payments (mesothelioma cases often receive maximum disability ratings)
- Expert medical care at VA medical centers or academic cancer treatment centers from doctors who specialize in treating asbestos-related diseases
- Comprehensive support programs that provide a range of services, including psychological counseling, in-home care, and adaptive equipment
To be eligible, veterans need to submit detailed applications that establish a connection between their naval service record and their current medical diagnosis.
Bankruptcy Trust Compensation
Once the dangers of asbestos became public knowledge, veterans began to sue the companies that chose profits over the health of the people exposed to their products. Confronted with massive financial obligations from court verdicts, numerous manufacturers and distributors were forced into bankruptcy and required to create bankruptcy trust funds to compensate their victims far into the future. These trusts collectively administer billions of dollars that are available to veterans. To file a claim against a company whose products you were exposed to during your service, you need to provide:
- Verified documentation of asbestos exposure
- Professional medical diagnosis of asbestos-related illness that links exposure to the product to your illness
Civil Litigation
Over the last several decades, it’s been revealed that the companies that supplied asbestos to the military, as well as to industries, were well aware of the dangers the substance posed to service members and those who were occupationally exposed. Their purposeful suppression of this knowledge allowed them to continue to fulfill profitable government contracts, but put countless lives at risk.
Veterans can pursue compensation from these companies by filing personal injury lawsuits covering their medical costs and reimbursing them for their suffering, and surviving relatives can similarly pursue wrongful death claims. While these legal actions can be adversarial and stressful, they have secured substantial compensation for asbestos victims, and many cases settle privately, without requiring court proceedings.
Each of these options can provide significant benefits, but they aren’t easy to pursue on your own. Fortunately, there are asbestos attorneys who specialize in helping people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. They can help you compile evidence and fill out documents, identify all the parties whose products you were exposed to, make sure you submit all paperwork in time for deadlines, and maximize the amount of money you receive to cover your costs and secure financial stability for your family.
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