The USS Charles B. Cecil (DD-835) sailed for the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1973. A Gearing-class destroyer, her service record included atomic testing operations, Cold War missions, the Suez Crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. Built before the mid-1970s, the ship’s structure made extensive use of asbestos-containing materials. As a result, numerous former Cecil crew members and shipyard workers involved in her maintenance and retrofits have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Others are still at risk.
About the USS Charles B. Cecil
As one of the 98 Gearing-class destroyers, the USS Charles B. Cecil represented the total of all improvements made to the U.S. Navy’s destroyer design during the 20th century. Designated DD-835, her operations included participation in the atomic testing at Bikini Atoll, thirteen Mediterranean deployments, two Middle East cruises, and two Vietnam deployments. The Cecil earned the Engineering Efficiency Award for three consecutive years (1965-1967) and served as runner-up for the Squadron Battle Efficiency “E” award.[1]
The Ship’s Namesake
As was the custom in the U.S. Navy, destroyers were named for American naval leaders and heroes.[2] DD-835’s name honored the memory of Rear Admiral Charles Purcell Cecil, a Kentucky native born in 1893 who graduated from the Naval Academy and received his commission as ensign in 1916. His courage during World War II, both as commander of Destroyer Division 5 during the Battle of Santa Cruz in 1942 and as commanding officer of USS Helena (CL-50) in multiple mine laying and shore bombardment missions in 1943, earned him the Navy Cross, a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross, and the Bronze Star. Rear Admiral Cecil died in an aircraft accident in the Pacific in July 1944.[3]
Design and Construction of the USS Charles B. Cecil
The USS Charles B. Cecil was launched in April 1945 by Bath Iron Works. Rear Admiral Cecil’s widow, Mrs. C. P. Cecil, was the ship’s sponsor. Commander W. Outerson took command when the vessel was commissioned in late June 1945.
As one of the 98 Gearing-class destroyers representing the final evolution of Fletcher and Allen M. Sumner class improvements, the Cecil had a standard displacement of 2,425 tons, measured 390 feet 6 inches in length with a beam of 41 feet 1 inch, and drew 18 feet 6 inches. Her propulsion system was powered by Babcock & Wilcox boilers and General Electric turbines, and achieved speeds of 35 knots and supported a crew of 367 officers and enlisted personnel. Her armament consisted of six 5-inch guns, five 21-inch torpedo tubes, six depth charge projectors, and two depth charge tracks.[3]
Operational Service Record
Early Service and Pacific Operations
After her commissioning, the USS Charles B. Cecil reached her home port of San Diego in November 1945 and almost immediately deployed to the Pacific. While there, she participated in Joint Task Force One operations during the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll and supported occupation forces in Japanese waters, then returned to San Diego in August 1946. She conducted exercises off America’s west coast until leaving in August 1947 for her second Far East deployment, which included visits to numerous Pacific islands and ports in China, Japan, and Okinawa before returning to San Diego in May 1948.
Atlantic Fleet Transfer and Cold War Service
Reclassified as DDR-835 in March 1949, the Charles B. Cecil left San Diego again in April 1949 for Newport, Rhode Island, and reassignment to the Atlantic Fleet. Operating first from Newport and later from Norfolk, Virginia, the Cecil’s service through 1960 was dedicated to midshipmen training cruises, regular Mediterranean deployments, and maintenance overhauls and refresher training that kept her and her crew operationally ready.
The destroyer was frequently involved in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations, sailing in waters ranging from north of the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean Sea. Her Mediterranean service included a deployment that coincided with the Suez Crisis in the fall of 1956, during which she conducted patrols in the eastern Mediterranean.
Electronic Warfare and Advanced Operations
Beginning in January 1959, the Cecil underwent modifications that included the installation of new electronic computational and tracking equipment relevant to her mission on air defense experiments and exercises that contributed to the Navy’s tactical development. Despite this specialization, her crew members continued to perform the work that was typical of destroyers, including antisubmarine warfare and amphibious operations.
In May 1961, her homeport transferred to Newport, Rhode Island, where she continued her distinguished service record.[3]
Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam Service
The Cecil distinguished herself as one of the first vessels on the Cuban Quarantine Line during the fall of 1962. She was the primary ship that exhausted a Soviet submarine and compelled it to surface, exemplifying her critical contributions during the Cold War.[1]
In January 1972, the Cecil left Newport for an “Around the World” deployment to the Middle East. Serving as a goodwill ambassador, her Indian Ocean service included participating in Project Handclasp, a program that enabled Navy vessels to transport community welfare materials to foreign ports. In April, however, the Cecil was reassigned to augment the 7th Fleet forces supporting operations in South Vietnam.
Her Vietnam assignments included naval gunfire support missions near the Demilitarized Zone, operations with helicopter carriers in the Tonkin Gulf, search and rescue station duties in the Tonkin Gulf, and participation in strikes against selected military targets in North Vietnam. While serving in this capacity, the ship’s company earned the Combat Action Ribbon for operations while under enemy fire. Departing Vietnamese waters in July, the Cecil completed her circumnavigation with port visits throughout the Orient and Pacific before returning to Newport in August 1972.
Reserve Training and Decommissioning
After participating in local operations off the Rhode Island and Virginia coasts, the Charles B. Cecil completed a Naval Technical Proficiency Inspection. In January 1973, she was transferred to the Naval Reserve Force, replacing the original Gearing-class ship – the USS Gearing (DD-710) — in New London, Connecticut, in July 1973. This concluded her active service career.
Where Was Asbestos Located on the USS Charles B. Cecil?
Similar to other ships built for the Navy in the years surrounding World War II, the USS Charles B. Cecil contained asbestos-containing materials throughout her construction. Though many asbestos companies were aware of the dangers posed by the mineral, the U.S. Navy was not. The companies chose to keep the information quiet so they could continue earning profits from selling asbestos-containing materials to the shipyards supplying the military, and as a result, no section of the ship was free from asbestos contamination. Still, some areas had much higher concentrations of the toxic substance than others:
- Machinery spaces were heavily contaminated with asbestos-containing materials, which were used for insulating boilers, turbines, pumps, and valves. Thermal insulation blankets, gaskets, and packing materials in these compartments also routinely contained substantial asbestos percentages.
- The ship’s comprehensive piping systems, which distributed steam and heated water throughout the vessel, were covered with or treated with asbestos insulation materials.
- Electronic systems, including wiring, control panels, and associated components, relied on asbestos for its fire-resistant and insulating characteristics.
- Living areas, including mess facilities and sleeping quarters, contained asbestos in flooring tiles, overhead materials, bulkhead insulation, and fire-resistant doors.
- Damage control equipment and protective gear employed by emergency response teams frequently incorporated asbestos for thermal protection.
The Cecil’s various overhauls and modernizations both disturbed existing asbestos materials and replaced them with new equipment that also contained the hazardous mineral. These activities released dangerous asbestos fibers into the atmosphere, where they could be inhaled by both shipyard personnel and ship’s company members.
Who Was at the Greatest Risk of Asbestos Exposure Onboard the USS Charles B. Cecil?
Although every crew member serving aboard the USS Charles B. Cecil faced potential asbestos exposure, the sailors whose duties required them to work in the areas with the highest concentrations, or with equipment containing asbestos insulation, faced substantially elevated risks:
- Machinist’s Mates: These sailors maintained and operated the ship’s propulsion machinery. Their duties involved direct contact with asbestos-insulated equipment in cramped engine compartments.
- Boiler Technicians: These specialists managed the vessel’s steam generation systems. They worked in spaces containing the most concentrated asbestos levels.
- Damage Controlmen: Personnel responsible for emergency repairs regularly disturbed asbestos-containing materials while performing their duties.
- Hull Maintenance Technicians: These crew members performed structural repairs. Their work assignments routinely exposed them to asbestos insulation.
- Pipefitters: Personnel working with the ship’s extensive piping networks regularly handled asbestos-wrapped pipes and fittings.
- Electricians: Installing and maintaining electrical systems required frequent contact with asbestos-containing materials.
- Shipyard Personnel: Both civilian and military workers involved in the Cecil’s construction, overhauls, and modifications faced exposure risks during these intensive maintenance operations.
Below their decks, Naval vessels were confined spaces with inadequate ventilation. Asbestos fibers are exceptionally light and can remain airborne and circulate throughout compartments for extended periods, and cramped environments concentrate these fibers in the air, greatly increasing the danger. Even crew members who didn’t directly handle asbestos-containing materials risked inhaling these harmful particles.
How Could Asbestos Affect USS Charles B. Cecil Veterans?
Asbestos exposure has been linked to several severe, frequently fatal health conditions. Mesothelioma is the most devastating of these diseases. The condition is always considered terminal, though victims typically remain asymptomatic until 20 to 50 years after having been exposed. This prolonged latency period means that most USS Charles B. Cecil veterans don’t get diagnosed until decades after having been exposed. By this time, most are elderly. Many have retired, may suffer from other health problems, and have limited income. All of these factors can make an already-bad situation much worse.
The most frequently diagnosed asbestos-related conditions affecting naval veterans include:
Mesothelioma: An aggressive, invariably fatal malignancy affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart; nearly exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
Asbestosis: A chronic, progressive pulmonary disease characterized by lung tissue scarring, resulting in respiratory difficulties and impaired oxygen exchange.
Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases lung cancer risk, especially when combined with smoking.
Pleural Abnormalities: Non-malignant conditions affecting the lung lining, including plaques, thickening, and effusions, which can compromise respiratory function.
Additional Cancers: Studies have connected asbestos exposure to malignancies of the larynx, gastrointestinal system, and other organs.
These conditions frequently lead to substantial medical costs, decreased quality of life, reduced earning potential, and premature death for affected veterans and their families.
Are There Options for Veterans with Asbestos-Related Illnesses?
Veterans who served aboard the USS Charles B. Cecil and developed asbestos-related diseases may feel helpless, but avenues exist for both compensation and accountability:
VA Benefits
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has acknowledged the link between military service and asbestos exposure. Eligible veterans may receive:
- Disability compensation (with mesothelioma typically qualifying for a 100% disability rating)
- Specialized medical care from physicians experienced in treating asbestos diseases
- Support services, including counseling, home healthcare, and medical equipment
To qualify, veterans must establish both their naval service record and their diagnosis in a specific way that demonstrates the connection between their duties and current condition.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Confronted with thousands of personal injury claims and millions in liabilities following court verdicts, numerous asbestos product manufacturers and suppliers have created bankruptcy trust funds to compensate victims. These trusts collectively administer billions of dollars that have been specifically reserved for asbestos-affected individuals. This means that even if the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure are no longer in business, you can file claims against these funds. Payment requirements include:
- Documentation of asbestos exposure circumstances
- Medical diagnosis of an asbestos-related condition
Legal Claims
Many companies responsible for installing asbestos products in naval vessels knew of the material’s hazards but chose to conceal this information to continue profiting from military contracts. Veterans, shipyard workers, and others who’ve been exposed to asbestos as a result of negligence or fraud can pursue compensation from these companies by filing personal injury lawsuits. When these cases go to trial, juries or judges are presented with evidence about the victim’s exposure, the asbestos companies’ actions or inactions, and the impact on the individual’s life.
If the court agrees that the company was negligent or tried to conceal the dangers of their products, they assign awards to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Depending upon the specific company’s actions, they may also assign punitive damages that serve as punishment and as a warning to other companies. If the Navy veteran has died of their asbestos-related disease, their surviving family members can file wrongful death actions.
The Difference that a Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Make
Both types of litigation have provided asbestos victims with substantial awards, and in many cases, these civil lawsuits are resolved through out-of-court settlements before trial. The single factor that leads to maximum compensation for victims is putting the case in the hands of an experienced mesothelioma attorney. Not all lawsuits are the same, and cases surrounding asbestos exposure are extraordinarily complex.
Consulting with an asbestos attorney means putting your case in the hands of legal professionals with deep knowledge and extensive resources related to previous asbestos-related claims. Their support and services can help you navigate everything from documentation requirements and deadlines to identifying liable parties. Most important of all, they can prepare a claim, negotiate on your behalf, and represent you in a way that will maximize compensation for you and your family.
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