The USS Hawkins (DD-873) was a Gearing-class destroyer that served the U.S. Navy from World War II through the Cold War and Vietnam years. Like hundreds of other naval ships built during the mid-20th century, the USS Hawkins contained substantial amounts of asbestos-containing materials. The inclusion of this carcinogenic material put service members onboard the ship and shipyard workers who maintained, upgraded, and repaired her at risk of developing serious respiratory diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestosis.
The USS Hawkins’ Namesake
The ship was originally named Beatty but was renamed in June 1944 to honor First Lieutenant William Deane Hawkins, who was born in 1914 in Kansas. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 1942 and was killed on November 21, 1943, during the assault on Tarawa, earning the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism.[1]
About the USS Hawkins
The USS Hawkins (DD-873) was built by Consolidated Steel Co. in Orange, Texas, and commissioned in February 1945 under the command of Commander C. Iverson. A Gearing-class destroyer, the USS Hawkins displaced 3,450 tons when fully loaded and measured 390.5 feet in length. The vessel was equipped with formidable armament, including six dual-purpose five-inch guns mounted in three turrets—two forward and one aft. These provided both anti-aircraft defense and shore bombardment capabilities. Additional weaponry included anti-aircraft cannons of various calibers (40mm and 20mm), torpedo tubes, and later upgrades that included RUR-4 Weapon Alpha launchers for surface-to-air missiles and Mark 32 torpedo tubes for anti-submarine warfare.[2]
Construction and Notable Upgrades
Throughout her service history, the USS Hawkins underwent significant modernization programs that enhanced her operational effectiveness. In 1951, the ship received a major radar system upgrade that substantially improved her ability to detect and track enemy aircraft and vessels/ This capability was invaluable during Korean War operations. A second comprehensive FRAM modernization program, begun in 1962, focused on advancing the ship’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities, providing her with upgraded sonar systems. This made her a formidable asset for underwater threat detection during the Cold War period.[2]
As maritime technology improved, so too did the ship, receiving extensive modifications in 1980 that added new missile launchers and radar systems to upgrade and strengthen her defense against both aircraft and missile attacks. These changes ensured the ship’s continued relevance in modern naval operations.
Service and Deployment History of the USS Hawkins
Following commissioning and shakedown training in the Caribbean, the USS Hawkins arrived at Norfolk Naval Basein March 1945 for conversion to a radar picket ship. This conversion was completed in May, and the ship left immediately afterward to conduct training exercises at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, then set sail for San Diego and Pearl Harbor. Arriving in July, the Hawkins prepared for Pacific War operations, but the Japanese surrendered in August, just three days after the ship left Pearl Harbor. The capitulation shifted the Hawkins’ mission from combat support to occupation duties.[1]
The destroyer sailed to Eniwetok, then to Iwo Jima and Tokyo Bay, arriving in late August to assist in early occupation operations. She escorted vessels to and from the Mariana Islands, remaining in the waters off Japan until early January 1946, when she proceeded to the Philippines and Saipan. She finally reached Pearl Harbor in April.
During 1947, the USS Hawkins was deployed to the Far East, where she operated between Chinese and Korean ports to support American Marine units as they worked to stabilize the volatile Chinese situation and protect American lives. The ship’s crew also participated in rescue operations in July 1947, when the steamer Hong Kong sank with over 2,000 aboard.
The Hawkins was reassigned to the Atlantic Fleet in 1949, with Newport as its new home port. She began alternating between reserve training cruises, readiness exercises in the Caribbean, and Mediterranean deployments with the 6th Fleet, then was reclassified as DDR-873 in March 1949.
When the Korean War began, the USS Hawkins was deployed to the conflict zone, arriving at Pusan in February 1951. During her four months of Korean service, the ship screened mobile carrier forces during strikes against enemy positions, provided anti-submarine protection, controlled jet aircraft in combat air patrols, and served as plane guard during Formosa Straits operations.[1]
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Hawkins’ assignments followed a pattern, alternating between Mediterranean deployments and then moving on to Atlantic and Caribbean operations. During the 1956 Suez Crisis, the ship operated in the Eastern Mediterranean, while in 1961, she participated in special Task Group operations supporting American space experiments and missile tests off Cape Canaveral.
The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 saw the USS Hawkins join the naval quarantine of Cuba, patrolling Caribbean waters from late October through December. The ship continued supporting various missile tests, including Polaris submarine trials with the Alexander Hamilton and Andrew Jackson.
In 1965, the USS Hawkins deployed to Southeast Asia as part of the 7th Fleet, supporting carrier operations in the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin while providing gunfire support for ground troops along the South Vietnamese coast. The ship returned to Newport in April 1966 and continued Atlantic Fleet operations.
Notable later operations included support for multiple Apollo missions, with the ship serving as a backup recovery vessel for Apollo 12 in 1969 and Apollo 14 in 1971. In 1970, the Hawkins replaced the grounded USS Steinaker in NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic exercises.
From 1977 to 1979, the USS Hawkins served as a Naval Reserve training ship in Philadelphia before being stricken from the Navy List in October 1979. She was subsequently sold to Taiwan in 1983.
How Was Asbestos Used Onboard the USS Hawkins?
The widespread use of asbestos throughout the USS Hawkins was typical of military naval construction from the 1930s through the 1980s. During this time, asbestos was viewed as a miracle mineral; it was prized for its remarkable fire-resistance and insulating properties. Military contractors and shipbuilders relied heavily on asbestos because it offered superior thermal protection while maintaining structural integrity under extreme conditions, making it seem the ideal material for naval applications where fire prevention and heat management were critical concerns. This comprehensive, systematic use would lead to tragedy in the future, as it was nearly impossible for crew members to avoid inhaling the asbestos fibers that inevitably broke down and were carried throughout the vessel for them to inhale.
The areas of the ship that contained extremely high concentrations of the material included:
- Engine and Propulsion Areas: The ship’s powerplant was found in the engine and propulsion areas, and these compartments had the highest concentrations of asbestos materials. Because of the extreme heat generated by boilers, turbines, and related machinery, these spaces required thermal barriers to protect both personnel and critical infrastructure. These areas were also equipped with asbestos blankets, tiles, and spray-on coatings.
- Circulation System: Piping networks carrying steam, hot water, and other heated fluids were wrapped with asbestos-containing insulation materials or liberally covered with spray-on asbestos insulation. These thermal layers were essential for preventing burns and optimizing the system’s heat retention and efficiency, but they created significant exposure risks when disturbed during maintenance activities.
- Personal Protective Equipment: Sailors were outfitted with a variety of gear meant to keep them safe, including specialized clothing, gloves, and firefighting equipment. All of these items incorporated asbestos fibers for heat protection. This integration meant that crew members were potentially exposed to hazardous fibers even while performing routine safety procedures.
- Structural Components: Various ship elements, including gaskets, seals, deck materials, and bulkhead panels, contained asbestos to enhance durability and fire resistance. These applications were so numerous that virtually every area of the ship contained some asbestos-containing materials.
Personnel at Risk for Asbestos Exposure on the USS Hawkins
Naval personnel serving aboard the USS Hawkins faced varying degrees of asbestos exposure depending on their assigned duties and work locations. The hazardous mineral was present throughout the vessel in countless applications, meaning that any activity that disturbed these materials could release microscopic fibers into the air, where they could be inhaled or ingested by nearby crew members.
When asbestos-containing materials deteriorate or are disturbed through maintenance, repair, or renovation activities, they release nearly invisible fibers that can float in the air for hours. These fibers, if inhaled, can become permanently lodged in lung tissue and the protective membranes surrounding internal organs. Though the body has natural defense mechanisms against this type of foreign body, coughing can’t eliminate these particles, which can accumulate over time and eventually trigger inflammatory responses that lead to serious diseases decades after initial exposure.
Those most at risk for this type of exposure included:
- High-Risk Personnel: Crew members working in engineering spaces, boiler rooms, and machinery compartments faced the greatest exposure risks due to the concentration of asbestos materials in these areas. Engine room personnel, boiler technicians, and maintenance crews regularly worked in confined spaces with poor ventilation, where asbestos insulation covered pipes, boilers, and other heat-generating equipment. Sailors diagnosed with mesothelioma often recall the extremely dusty, dirty environment in which they worked, especially during repair and maintenance operations.
- Moderate-Risk Personnel: Damage control teams, firefighters, and general maintenance personnel encountered asbestos exposure when performing duties throughout the ship. These individuals might not have worked exclusively in the most contaminated areas but could face significant exposure during emergency responses or routine maintenance tasks involving asbestos-containing components.
- Universal Risk Factors: Given the pervasive use of asbestos materials throughout naval vessels of this era, virtually every crew member aboard the USS Hawkins faced some level of potential exposure. Even those assigned to administrative or operational duties could encounter airborne fibers when asbestos materials were disturbed elsewhere on the ship, as the vessel’s ventilation systems could distribute contaminated air throughout multiple compartments.
Assistance and Compensation for USS Hawkins Veterans
Military veterans who served on the USS Hawkins and developed asbestos-related illnesses face significant challenges, but they do have options for obtaining state-of-the-art medical care, financial compensation, and support services.
- Veterans Administration: The Department of Veterans Affairs has acknowledged the presence of asbestos materials aboard Gearing-class destroyers, including the USS Hawkins. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions may qualify for disability compensation, healthcare services, and specialized treatment at VA medical facilities. Because mesothelioma is classified as a condition that creates a 100% disability, benefit applications are typically processed quickly, allowing for prompt access to medical care and financial support.
- Medical Screening and Monitoring: Even veterans who haven’t developed symptoms and who feel healthy should inform their healthcare providers about their asbestos exposure history so they can arrange for proactive screening and monitor for early signs of asbestos-related diseases. This simple step can make a significant change in your long-term outcomes, as an earlier diagnosis opens the door to many more treatment options. Screening tests may include chest imaging and pulmonary function tests to detect changes that could indicate developing disease.
- Taking Legal Action Against Asbestos Companies: Navy veterans and former shipyard workers may also pursue compensation from companies that manufactured asbestos-containing products used aboard naval vessels. Many of these manufacturers knew about the health risks associated with their products but chose not to provide adequate warnings to military personnel or the armed forces. Successful lawsuits have resulted in substantial settlements and jury verdicts, and many companies forced into bankruptcy by asbestos litigation were required to establish trust funds designed specifically to compensate future claimants diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases.
Veterans considering any of these actions will benefit from meeting with an attorney who specializes in asbestos litigation. These professionals understand the unique aspects of military exposure cases and have deep knowledge of caselaw and previous litigation. They can help identify responsible parties, navigate complex legal procedures, gather necessary documentation, and ensure that your claims are filed within applicable time limits. Acting early is essential, as statutes of limitations impose strict deadlines for filing legal claims after diagnosis.
The combination of VA benefits and potential compensation from responsible manufacturers can provide significant financial resources to help veterans and their families cope with the medical expenses and other costs associated with asbestos-related diseases. Veterans are encouraged to explore all available options to ensure they receive the full measure of assistance they deserve for their service-related health conditions.
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