The USS Glennon (DD-840) served the U.S. Navy from the final months of World War II through the 1960s. A Gearing-class destroyer, the vessel contained dangerous asbestos-contaminated products in virtually every section, leading to devastating health impacts for countless sailors and shipyard workers who sailed on her or participated in her maintenance and overhaul operations. Decades later, many of these servicemen have developed fatal diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, while others remain at risk for future illness.
About the USS Glennon
The USS Glennon was one of the 98 ships representing the final generation of destroyers engineered for World War II combat operations. A destroyer is a fast, maneuverable warship designed primarily to protect larger ships like aircraft carriers and cruisers from submarine, aircraft, and enemy missile threats. The Gearing-class vessels were equipped with advanced radar systems, anti-aircraft weapons, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and guided missiles to defend naval fleets and conduct various military operations at sea.[1]
Measuring 390 feet 6 inches from bow to stern with a 41-foot 1-inch beam and 18-foot 6-inch draft, the Glennon displaced 2,425 tons and could reach speeds of 35 knots. Her crew complement totaled 367 personnel, and she carried weaponry consisting of six 5-inch guns along with all the other armaments typical of her class.
The USS Glennon’s Namesake
The vessel honored the memory of Rear Admiral James Henry Glennon, a distinguished naval officer whose career spanned from the late 19th century through World War I. Born in California in 1857, Glennon entered the Naval Academy as a cadet midshipman and went on to serve with valor in multiple conflicts. His notable achievements included commanding a gun turret aboard the battleship Massachusetts and helping sink the Reina Mercedes during the Spanish-American War, and serving in operations against Philippine insurgents. During World War I, he was sent on a dangerous diplomatic mission to Russia, successfully convincing mutinous Russian sailors to restore naval authority. For his wartime leadership, including training thousands of merchant marine armed guard crews, he received the Navy Cross. Admiral Glennon passed away in 1940, just five years before his namesake destroyer was launched.[2]
Construction and Deployments
Bath Iron Works in Maine constructed the USS Glennon in July 1945, with Miss Frances Reading Glennon, the admiral’s granddaughter, serving as sponsor. Commander George W. Pressey assumed command when the ship was commissioned in October 1945.[2]
After shakedown training in the waters off Cuba, the Glennon embarked on her first major deployment in February 1946, sailing to European ports and conducting visits throughout the North Sea nations. She returned to New York that August, and after maintenance periods in Boston and Newport, she participated in refresher training at Guantanamo Bay in spring 1947. She was then assigned to extensive tactical exercises along the Eastern seaboard extending to Florida ports.
The destroyer’s operational tempo intensified in 1948 with combat fleet exercises spanning from Cuba to Trinidad and the Panama Canal. That summer, she joined the Midshipman Practice Squadron for a European cruise that included stops in Portugal, Italy, and French Morocco before reporting to the 6th Fleet for Mediterranean duty in August 1948.
The early 1950s brought continued Mediterranean deployments interspersed with challenging cold-weather operations. During Operation “Frostbite” in the winter of 1949-50, the Glennon participated in Arctic exercises near the Davis Strait, demonstrating the Navy’s all-weather operational capabilities.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the destroyer maintained a demanding operational schedule that included flagship duties for Destroyer Squadron 8, multiple Mediterranean cruises, reserve training missions, and specialized assignments. Notable among these was her selection as a recovery station ship for the Project Mercury space flights in 1961 and 1962, including Major Grissom’s suborbital flight and Major John Glenn’s historic three-orbit mission.
The ship also participated in the tragic search for the nuclear submarine USS Thresher and continued antisubmarine warfare training throughout the mid-1960s. Her missions included serving as a training platform for West Point cadets during Exercise “Mule 65” and carrying dignitaries to the America’s Cup Races in 1964.
Final Years of Service and Decommissioning
The USS Glennon’s final decade of active service saw her continuing operations with the Atlantic Fleet through 1967, maintaining the rigorous schedule of training exercises, port visits, and readiness operations that had characterized her entire career. As newer classes of destroyers entered service and naval priorities shifted toward more modern warfare capabilities, older Gearing-class vessels like the Glennon gradually transitioned toward less demanding roles.
During her later service years, the destroyer continued to serve as a training platform for naval personnel. She participated in various fleet exercises designed to maintain crew proficiency and test evolving tactical doctrines. Her experienced crew and reliable systems made her a valuable asset for training operations and ceremonial duties along the Eastern seaboard.
The Navy decommissioned the USS Glennon in 1968, marking the end of over two decades of faithful service. Following decommissioning, the vessel was struck from the Naval Vessel Register, officially ending her military career. Like many of her sister ships, the Glennon was eventually sold for scrap and recycled for civilian use.
Asbestos Contamination Throughout the USS Glennon
Built in the mid-1940s when asbestos was considered an indispensable shipbuilding material, the USS Glennon contained the toxic mineral in countless applications throughout her structure. At the time she was built, the military mandated that asbestos be used due to its outstanding fire-resistant properties, thermal insulation capabilities, and sound-dampening characteristics. Though asbestos manufacturers and suppliers received reports about the material’s health dangers from the scientific community, the information wasn’t shared with the Navy. The decision by asbestos companies to keep this information to themselves resulted in widespread contamination that eventually claimed thousands of veterans’ lives and sickened many more.
Aboard the USS Glennon, hazardous asbestos materials were present in:
Engineering and Mechanical Systems: The ship’s power plant was heavily insulated with extensive asbestos wrapping around boilers, steam lines, turbines, and auxiliary machinery. Pumps manufactured by companies like Gardner-Denver contained asbestos gaskets, packing materials, and thermal barriers that required regular replacement during maintenance and repair operations. These activities required significant manipulation of the fibrous material, leading to dangerous particles being released into the confined spaces where sailors worked.
Damage Control and Safety Equipment: Firefighting gear, emergency suits, and protective equipment contained asbestos fibers. When used, those fibers could be released, exposing crew members during both scheduled training exercises and actual emergencies.
Electrical and Electronic Systems: Wiring insulation, switchboard components, and electronic equipment housings contained asbestos materials designed to prevent electrical fires and provide thermal protection.
Living and Working Spaces: Crew berthing areas, mess decks, and workspaces featured asbestos in ceiling tiles, wall insulation, flooring compounds, and ventilation system components. Supply rooms were another source of exposure, as they stocked gasket materials and repair parts that contained asbestos. These included compressed asbestos materials that required cutting or shaping to fit different equipment.
Asbestos’s Health Impact on USS Glennon Personnel
Sailors assigned to the USS Glennon faced constant exposure to airborne asbestos particles that floated below decks on the ship. The destroyer’s limited ventilation systems meant that once maintenance activities or other operations involving asbestos-containing materials were performed, the microscopic fibers that were released could remain suspended in the air for hours or even days. Personnel throughout the ship went about their days and duties without realizing that they were inhaling deadly particles.
One of the reasons that asbestos presents such a danger is that once its fibers enter the body, they’re almost impossible to expel. Depending on the type of asbestos, its fibers have either a needlelike, pointed end or a hook shape. Both types penetrate deep into lung tissue and other organs and, once embedded, trigger chronic inflammation that can persist for decades before manifesting as serious disease. The latency period between exposure and symptom development typically ranges from twenty to fifty years, meaning many veterans only discovered their asbestos-related illnesses long after their naval service ended.
The tragic consequences of shipboard asbestos exposure have become evident in numerous USS Glennon veterans, including Paul F. McCarthy, who served aboard the destroyer from 1951 to 1955. During his four-year assignment, McCarthy worked with Gardner-Denver equipment and other asbestos-containing products as part of his regular duties. Decades later, he developed mesothelioma, the aggressive cancer most closely associated with asbestos exposure. His survivors pursued legal action against the manufacturers whose products contributed to his fatal illness, highlighting the ongoing struggle faced by countless naval veterans and their families.
McCarthy’s case illustrates how asbestos exposure affected sailors regardless of their specific job assignments. While engineering personnel who directly handled machinery components faced the highest concentration of fibers, the pervasive nature of shipboard asbestos meant that cooks, clerks, and other support personnel also encountered dangerous levels of exposure through contaminated air, clothing, and surfaces throughout the vessel.
Support and Compensation for Affected Veterans
Former USS Glennon crew members who’ve developed asbestos-related diseases have several possibilities for obtaining medical care and financial compensation.
VA Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides specialized benefits for veterans who can demonstrate a connection between their military service and their asbestos-related diagnosis.VA benefits for mesothelioma typically include a 100% disability rating, providing substantial monthly compensation to help offset lost income and medical expenses. Veterans may also access specialized medical care through VA medical centers that have expertise in treating asbestos-related conditions, including access to cutting-edge treatment protocols and clinical trials.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Additionally, former Glennon sailors may pursue compensation through the civil court system by filing claims against the manufacturers of asbestos products they encountered during their service. These cases have resulted in significant jury verdicts and negotiated settlements for many veterans and their families. Asbestos suppliers and equipment manufacturers and distributors have faced numerous lawsuits from naval veterans who were exposed to and sickened by their asbestos-containing products.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Another option involves filing claims with asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by companies that have filed for bankruptcy protection due to asbestos liabilities, as well as some that set up funds voluntarily. These trusts, which hold approximately $30 billion in assets, continue to compensate victims more quickly than traditional litigation, though the awards are typically smaller than those obtained through successful lawsuits.
Contact an Asbestos Attorney Today
Veterans who served aboard the USS Glennon should consider consulting with healthcare providers experienced in occupational lung diseases, even if they currently feel healthy. Regular monitoring can lead to early detection of asbestos-related conditions, potentially improving treatment outcomes. Those who’ve already received a deadly diagnosis should reach out to an experienced asbestos attorney for guidance. These compassionate professionals specialize in helping veterans and others sickened by asbestos to get the justice that they deserve. They will listen carefully, answer all of your questions thoughtfully, and explain how filing a VA benefits claim and pursuing asbestos litigation can provide you and your family with reimbursement for your costs and damages and provide the financial security your family will need in the future.
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