The USS Dennis J. Buckley (DD-808) was a U.S. Navy ship that served with distinction from 1945 to 1983, spanning nearly four decades of service. Built when asbestos was a constant part of shipbuilding, this Gearing-class destroyer contained the toxic material throughout its structure. Today, many of those who served on the ship or who played a role in its construction, maintenance, or repairs are vulnerable to serious health complications, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other respiratory conditions.
About the USS Dennis J. Buckley
The USS Dennis J. Buckley was commissioned in 1945 and decommissioned in the early 1980s. As part of the Gearing-class, she was one of the last 98 destroyers built during or immediately after World War II. The ship’s design was so adaptable that it underwent multiple modernization programs that extended her service life well beyond what was originally anticipated.[1]
The vessel’s name honors Fireman First Class Dennis Joseph Buckley, Jr. Born in 1920, after enlisting in the Navy in 1940, Fireman Buckley tried to board and salvage a blockade runner that had been intercepted by his ship, the USS Eberle, in March 1943. The explosion of demolition charges planted by the blockade runner’s crew killed him, but his bravery resulted in a posthumous Silver Star and having DD-808 named in his memory.[2]
The ship was laid down in December 1944 at the Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine, and sponsored by Mrs. D.J. Buckley, Fireman Buckley’s mother. She was commissioned in March 1945, with Commander K.C. Walpole in command.
As was true of all Gearing-class destroyers, the Buckley displaced 2,425 tons standard and measured 390 feet 6 inches in length, with a beam of 41 feet 1 inch and a draft of 18 feet 6 inches. Her propulsion system, powered by Babcock & Wilcox boilers and General Electric turbines, allowed her to achieve speeds of up to 35 knots, making her much more useful to the Navy. The ship’s extended hull allowed her to carry significantly more fuel, which also extended her range. She accommodated a crew of 367 officers and enlisted personnel and carried an armament configuration of six 5-inch guns, ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, six depth charge projectors, and two depth charge tracks.[1]
Operational History of the USS Dennis J. Buckley
Post World War II
After she was commissioned, the Buckley was immediately sent from Norfolk, Virginia, to fulfill post-war occupation goals in the Western Pacific. Arriving in Tokyo Bay in December, she operated throughout the Mariana and visited Manila before returning to San Diego in April 1946.
During her second Far East deployment in 1947, the ship patrolled Chinese coastal waters, providing fleet services and participating in exercises near Okinawa. By October 1948, she was in China, where she maintained patrols during civilian evacuations required following Communist advances. She then embarked on a round-the-world voyage through Hong Kong, Singapore, Ceylon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Greece, and Turkey before reaching New York in February 1949.[2]
Korea and The Cold War
The following month, the ship was reclassified as a radar picket destroyer (DDR-808). Throughout the early 1950s, she alternated between Mediterranean deployments with the 6th Fleet and Atlantic operations, participating in NATO exercises and serving as a training vessel for destroyer officers. After the North Korean invasion of South Korea, the Buckley provided support for United Nations forces, screening fast carriers, patrolling the Taiwan Strait, and conducting coastal bombardment operations.
Throughout the early 1960s, the Buckley participated in several antisubmarine warfare exercises, SEATO operations, joint training with allied forces, and surveillance missions all aimed at maintaining an American naval presence throughout the Pacific in the face of rising Cold War tensions. In August 1960, she was overhauled as part of the comprehensive Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM Mark I) conversion program. This equipped her with advanced ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) systems, DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) capabilities, modernized communications, and improved accommodations for the crew.[2]
Vietnam
In early 1965, the USS Buckley began her Vietnam War service when she was deployed to Southeast Asia. From June through November 1965, she conducted diverse operations that saw her fire 1,372 rounds of 5-inch ammunition against 68 targets along the coastal area: This was her first use of forward zone air spotters.[3]
Through 1966 and 1967, the ship was regularly deployed to Vietnam, conducting naval gunfire support missions, carrier plane guard duties, and Taiwan Strait patrols. Her 1966-1967 Vietnam deployment included extensive shore bombardment operations in the III and IV Corps areas.
After her 1967 overhaul at San Francisco Naval Shipyard, the Buckley returned to combat operations. In 1968, she conducted search and rescue operations off North Vietnam and provided gunfire support along South Vietnamese coastal regions.
The ship continued Vietnam service through the early 1970s, participating in intense combat operations surrounding North Vietnam’s 1972 Easter Offensive and subsequent American military responses. Through the 1970s, the Buckley continued regular Western Pacific deployments while adapting to changing naval requirements. Following her final Vietnam combat deployment in 1972, she transitioned to peacetime operations, conducting training exercises, participating in NATO operations, and serving as a trials vessel for new sonar technologies.[3]
In 1973, the Buckley was reclassified from DDR-808 back to DD-808, reflecting changes in naval warfare priorities. She continued active service through the late 1970s, conducting goodwill visits, participating in joint exercises, and maintaining naval presence throughout the Pacific region.
The USS Dennis J. Buckley was decommissioned in October 1981, after almost forty years of service. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in late September 1980 and transferred to Turkey in 1982.
Asbestos Hazards Found on the USS Dennis J. Buckley
Like all naval vessels built during the 1940s, the USS Dennis J. Buckley made extensive use of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials throughout her structure, with some areas representing particularly high concentrations of the hazardous material. These areas included the ship’s machinery compartments and engineering spaces where the boilers, turbines, pumps, and valves were located, and the steam pipes that ran throughout the length of the ship, which were wrapped or sprayed with asbestos insulation. The toxic material was also a part of thermal insulation blankets, gaskets found in equipment, packing materials, and electrical systems, as well as the floor and ceiling tiles of crew quarters and mess halls.
In addition to the materials used in the ship’s original construction, the 1960-1961 FRAM modernization that updated its equipment, as well as various periods in shipyards for regular maintenance, along with subsequent yard periods and regular maintenance, led to significant disturbance of existing asbestos materials throughout the vessel that sent dangerous asbestos fibers into the air where they could be inhaled by shipyard workers and crew members alike.
Which Personnel Onboard the USS Dennis J. Buckley Were at the Greatest Asbestos Risk?
While everybody onboard the USS Dennis J. Buckley experienced asbestos exposure, certain ratings, responsibilities, and specialties had elevated risks because of the high level of contamination in their work environments. These included:
- Machinists’ Mates, whose work operating and maintaining the ship’s propulsion systems meant they worked directly with asbestos-insulated equipment in confined engine spaces.
- Boiler Technicians: These specialists managed the ship’s steam generation systems, working in environments with the highest concentrations of asbestos materials.
- Damage Controlmen were responsible for emergency repairs and frequently disturbed asbestos-containing materials during their duties.
- Hull Maintenance Technicians were tasked with structural repairs and regularly encountered asbestos insulation throughout the vessel.
- Pipefitters worked with the ship’s extensive piping systems and routinely maintained asbestos-wrapped pipes and components.
- Electricians installing and maintaining electrical systems often interacted with asbestos-containing materials.
- Shipyard Workers were both military personnel and civilians involved in the Buckley’s construction, FRAM modernization, and subsequent repairs and overhauls, and they experienced significant exposure during these intensive maintenance sessions.
Shipboard environments are notoriously tight and have limited ventilation in their enclosed spaces. This magnified exposure risks, as asbestos fibers could remain suspended in the air for extended periods and circulate throughout compartments, potentially exposing even those personnel who didn’t work directly with asbestos-containing materials.
Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure
Exposure to asbestos can trigger several serious, often fatal health conditions, some of which don’t begin to show symptoms until 20 to 50 years after a person has been exposed. This extended latency period means that USS Dennis J. Buckley veterans who think themselves clear of a mesothelioma diagnosis may still be at risk.
Though mesothelioma is the most deadly asbestos-related condition, several other debilitating illnesses can affect naval veterans who were exposed to the mineral. These include:
- 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 substantially increases lung cancer risk, especially for those with a history of tobacco use.
- Pleural Abnormalities: Non-cancerous conditions affecting the lung lining, including plaques, thickening, and effusions that can impair respiratory function.
- Additional Malignancies: Research has linked asbestos exposure to cancers affecting the larynx, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.
These conditions often impose significant medical expenses, diminished quality of life, reduced earning capacity, and premature mortality for affected veterans and their families.
Options for Veterans with Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos-Related Illness
Veterans who served aboard the USS Dennis J. Buckley and who developed asbestos-related diseases have three primary avenues for compensation:
VA Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs has long recognized the tragic connection between military service and asbestos exposure. Eligible veterans can receive:
- Disability compensation (with mesothelioma typically qualifying for a 100% disability rating)
- Treatment from physicians who specialize in asbestos diseases
- Support services, including home healthcare and medical equipment
To qualify, veterans must document their naval service history and establish the connection between their duties and current illness.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Many asbestos product manufacturers have established trust funds as part of their reorganization negotiations with the bankruptcy courts. These funds were set up specifically to compensate those exposed to asbestos in their products. These trusts collectively represent billions of dollars for affected individuals, including veterans. Victims can file claims against these funds, even if the companies no longer exist, by providing:
- Documentation of asbestos exposure circumstances
- Medical diagnosis of an asbestos-related condition
Legal Claims
Veterans can sue the companies responsible for putting dangerous asbestos products in their naval environments. Litigation options include:
- Personal injury lawsuits are filed by victims seeking compensation for their medical expenses and pain and suffering
- Wrongful death actions for families who have lost loved ones to asbestos-related diseases.
If you are a veteran, pursuing this type of legal action will not impact your eligibility for VA benefits: Veterans can pursue multiple compensation paths at the same time.
Each of these options represents a complicated process, so it’s a good idea to get help from an experienced mesothelioma attorney with specific knowledge of asbestos cases. These compassionate professionals help veterans and other victims navigate the maze of documentation requirements. They can also use your employment history to help identify all potential sources of your asbestos exposure to maximize the compensation you receive.
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