The USS Ingersoll (DD-652) was a Fletcher-class destroyer that served with distinction across multiple conflicts, from World War II through the Vietnam War. One of the finest examples of the U.S. Navy’s fleet operations, the Ingersoll’s long history was marred by the risk of health hazards caused by the asbestosused in her infrastructure, equipment, and supplies. As was true of almost all warships constructed during the 1940s, many personnel who served aboard or worked on the ship during her operational lifetime were later diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
About the Fletcher-class Destroyers
Fletcher-class destroyers like the USS Ingersoll were among the most effective classes of destroyers designed during World War II and the post-war period. The ships were in use through the 1990s, and one Naval expert called it, “The most successful of all American destroyers: fast, roomy, capable of absorbing enormous punishment, and yet fighting on.” With a displacement of 2,050 tons, the vessel measured 376 feet 6 inches in length, featured a beam of 39 feet 7 inches, and drew 17 feet 9 inches of water. The Fletchers were capable of achieving speeds up to 37 knots, so the Ingersoll and her crew of 319 officers and enlisted personnel could rapidly deploy to theaters of operation across the globe.[1]
The Fletcher-class destroyers had formidable armaments that reflected the combat needs of the time. Equipped with five 5-inch dual-purpose guns, ten 40mm anti-aircraft weapons, seven 20mm anti-aircraft cannons, ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, six depth charge projectors, and two depth charge tracks, their weaponry and design made them the Swiss Army knife of destroyers, providing the agility to engage enemy surface combatants, provide anti-aircraft defense, conduct submarine warfare operations, and deliver naval gunfire support for amphibious assaults.
About the USS Ingersoll
During her time of service, the Ingersoll proved exceptionally adaptable to changing naval requirements. In World War II, she operated extensively in the Pacific Theater, providing escort services for aircraft carriers, supporting amphibious operations, conducting bombardment missions, and offering anti-aircraft and anti-submarine protection for Allied task forces. Though she was decommissioned after the war, she was later reactivated to serve in the Korean conflict, then transitioned to operations spanning the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific regions. The ship and her crew participated in NATO exercises, officer training programs, and diplomatic missions around the world.[2]
The Ship’s Namesake
The USS Ingersoll was named in honor of two distinguished naval officers from the same family, both of whom demonstrated dedication and naval excellence. Rear Admiral Royal Rodney Ingersoll served the Navy for five decades, graduating from the Naval Academy in 1868 and serving across multiple theaters before becoming a respected educator and ordnance expert at the Naval Academy. He commanded vessels including the USS Bennington, USS New Orleans, and USS Maryland, finally being named Chief of Staff during the Atlantic Fleet’s historic world cruise and later serving as President of the Naval Ordnance Board.[2]
His grandson, Lieutenant Royal Rodney Ingersoll III, followed in his grandfather’s footsteps, graduating from the Naval Academy in 1934 and serving aboard various vessels before joining the carrier USS Hornet in 1941. During the Battle of Midway, he died at his battle station under enemy fire.
Construction and Commissioning
The Ingersoll was part of the massive wartime shipbuilding effort initiated during World War II. It was built by Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine, and launched in June 1942, sponsored by Miss Alice Jean Ingersoll, granddaughter of Rear Admiral Royal Rodney Ingersoll, and Mrs. R. R. Ingersoll II, widow of Lieutenant Royal Rodney Ingersoll III. The ship was commissioned at Boston Navy Yard in August 1943, under the command of Commander A. C. Veasy.[2]
Service History and Operations
World War II Pacific Theater
Following shakedown training off the coast of Bermuda during the autumn of 1943, the Ingersoll departed for Pacific operations, arriving at Pearl Harbor in December 1943. She immediately joined Task Force 58 for operations against Japanese-held territories in the Marshall Islands. The ship’s initial combat came during the assault on Kwajalein, where she provided pre-invasion bombardment and offshore support for landing forces. After the Marshall Islands were captured, the Ingersoll participated in the carrier strikes against Truk that effectively neutralized Japan’s major central Pacific stronghold. Later operations included carrier escort duties during strikes against the Mariana, Palau, and other strategic targets throughout the Pacific.[2]
The Ingersoll played a vital role during one of World War II’s most decisive naval battles. Operating with Task Force 38 during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in October 1944, she participated in multiple phases of the complex battle, including actions in the Sibuyan Sea and pursuing Japanese forces as they retreated.
In 1945, the Ingersoll supported carrier strikes against Formosa, the Philippines, and the Chinese coast and provided screening services during Admiral Halsey’s penetration into the South China Sea. Later operations included support for the Okinawa campaign, where she engaged suicide boats and aircraft while conducting patrol and picket duties.
The Ingersoll participated in the final air strikes against the Japanese home islands, including the bombardment of the Kamaishi iron works as part of the first surface ship attacks against Japan. The Ingersoll was in Tokyo Bay for Japan’s formal surrender ceremonies in September 1945.[2]
Post-War Service and Korean Conflict
Though decommissioned after the war, the Ingersoll was recommissioned in May 1951 to support United Nations forces during the Korean conflict. Initially operating along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean, she was deployed to the Mediterranean in 1952 to prevent the conflict from spreading to European theaters until returning to Newport in February 1953.[2]
After completing training operations, the ship departed for the Far East, arriving in Japan to begin operations off Korea in September. She supported the armistice before moving to the Formosa area, then sailed to Singapore, and then transited the Suez Canal in February 1954. Completing her global tour at Fall River, Massachusetts, in March 1954, she underwent repairs and training, then left in November 1954 for the Pacific. She participated in the Tachen Islands evacuation in 1955, then spent March and April at Formosa helping train Nationalist sailors.
Continued Cold War Operations
In 1956, the destroyer engaged in training operations until August, then had a new underwater fire control system installed in San Francisco. She then sailed for the western Pacific in 1957, stopping at Melbourne, Australia, and the Fiji Islands and participating in fleet exercises off Guam and the Philippines. In 1958, she returned to the Far East, then again in 1960, as trouble began mounting in Southeast Asia. She was sent to the South China Sea to support efforts to stabilize the Kingdom of Laos, remaining there until May 1961, then in 1962, she participated in operations with the carrier USS Hancock off South Vietnam. She also responded to reports of Communist troops on the mainland before returning to San Diego in July 1962.
In October 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted. Ingersoll sailed with an amphibious group to the Canal Zone in case additional troops were needed. Once the missile threat was addressed, she returned to the Far East in October 1963 to support carrier operations in the East and South China Seas, then resumed San Diego operations in spring 1964.
Vietnam War
After an overhaul in February 1965, the Ingersoll sailed for South Vietnam’s coast, where she intercepted Viet Cong personnel and supplies. She also performed plane guard and screen duties with fast carriers, including the USS Independence and USS Midway, as they conducted air strikes against targets in North Vietnam. She returned to San Diego in November 1965 for leave and upkeep, then returned in 1966 to participate in Operation “Sea Dragon,” anti-shipping operations, and plane guard duty for the USS Kitty Hawk. In December, a North Vietnamese coastal battery fired on the Ingersoll, which returned fire. The ship continued operating in the war zone and other Oriental waters until returning home in spring 1967.
The ship’s final combat deployment came in 1968, when her mission was intercepting materiel and supplies from North Vietnam to South Vietnam. She was decommissioned in January 1970, at U.S. Naval Station San Diego, and was ultimately sunk as a target in May 1974.
How Was Asbestos Used in Building the USS Ingersoll?
The USS Ingersoll was built during a time of wartime shipbuilding, when asbestos materials were considered essential to naval vessel construction. The U.S. military specified extensive use of asbestos-containing materials throughout its ships’ structures due to the mineral’s superior heat resistance, light weight, electrical insulation capabilities, acoustic dampening, and structural durability. Its low cost and ready availability made it even more attractive for wartime procurement.
Though the Navy was unaware of the emerging science regarding the hazards of asbestos, the manufacturers fulfilling the military’s orders had detailed knowledge of the serious risks associated with their products, including the risk of developing mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases after exposure to the mineral’s carcinogenic fibers. Despite this, many companies made the conscious decision to withhold critical safety information from military procurement, choosing corporate profits over the health of the military personnel and civilian workers who would eventually be exposed to these dangerous materials.
Asbestos-containing materials were installed throughout the USS Ingersoll, including in:
- Propulsion and Engineering Systems: Fletcher-class destroyers’ power plants featured boilers, steam piping, turbine assemblies, pumping equipment, and associated machinery that required insulation. This insulation generally contained significant amounts of asbestos, and as a result, the ship’s engineering and fire rooms contained the highest concentrations of the toxic material, including insulation-contaminated lagging that covered virtually every high-heat component and surface.
- Electrical Systems: The ships’ electrical infrastructure also used asbestos for its superior insulation. Cable routing, electrical panels, control systems, and motor insulation relied on the material to prevent electrical hazards and protect surrounding equipment from fire damage.
- Fire Protection Equipment and Supplies: Bulkhead insulation, deck coverings, ventilation system components, and fire barrier materials throughout the ship incorporated compressed asbestos fibers designed to limit the spread of fire spread combat or equipment malfunctions. These materials were present in berthing areas, dining spaces, corridors, and working compartments, leading to all personnel facing exposure, regardless of their duty assignments.
- Combat Systems: Weapons control equipment, gun mounts, and ammunition storage areas used asbestos for thermal management. The material reduced moisture accumulation on sensitive electronics, absorbed vibrations from weapons firing, and provided fire protection for essential combat systems during enemy engagement.
The Ingersoll was in service for decades, and during that time, she underwent numerous maintenance periods, upgrades, and battle damage repairs. Each of these instances increased the risk of disturbing asbestos and leading to its fibers becoming released into the air. Major structural modifications required extensive removal and replacement of asbestos-containing insulation, and this also created particularly hazardous conditions for personnel.
Routine maintenance activities and other normal ship operations disturbed asbestos-containing materials. Whether crew members were performing equipment upkeep, firefighting teams were training with asbestos-containing protective equipment, or damage control parties were practicing emergency procedures, each of these operations involved contact with asbestos-contaminated materials, and even normal movements at high speeds or vibrations following the firing of weaponry fro could cause asbestos materials to release microscopic fibers into the vessel’s air circulation systems.
Health Risks for USS Ingersoll Personnel
Sailors and officers assigned to the USS Ingersoll were subjected to constant asbestos exposure throughout their shipboard assignments, and the same was true of civilian shipyard workers involved in the vessel’s construction, maintenance, and modernization. The resulting health risks often remained undetected for decades following exposure because of the long latency periods that are typical of asbestos-related diseases. In some cases, exposure victims don’t begin to show symptoms until sixty years after exposure. This means that many of those who served on the US Ingersoll in the 1960s and 1970s may still be at risk.
When asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they penetrate the cells of the mesothelium, the organ that lines the pleural or peritoneal cavity. Once there, their unique physical and chemical characteristics make them virtually impossible for the body’s natural defense mechanisms to eliminate or expel, as they have sharp, pointed ends that become permanently embedded. Over time, they initiate a process of inflammation and damage that continues silently for decades, eventually resulting in genetic mutations, progressive internal damage, and the development of malignant tumors, all without obvious symptoms until it is too late for effective treatment.
The latency period for asbestos-related diseases typically ranges from 20 to 50 years following exposure, and the resulting conditions can be life-threatening. While some conditions, such as pleural plaques and asbestosis, represent chronic but survivable illnesses, other asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, are frequently fatal.
USS Ingersoll Personnel at Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Although anybody exposed to asbestos-contaminated environments on the Ingersoll faced potential health risks, certain onboard duty assignments involved significantly greater exposure due to work locations and job responsibilities. Personnel working in propulsion and engineering compartments experienced the most concentrated and prolonged exposure to asbestos materials, as did damage control specialists who routinely handled asbestos-containing materials during training exercises, electricians working with insulated systems, and maintenance personnel performing repairs on asbestos-insulated equipment.
Medical research has demonstrated that naval veterans, and particularly those serving aboard destroyer-class vessels, experienced significantly higher rates of asbestos-related diseases compared to civilian populations. This elevated risk results from the concentrated exposure conditions present on these ships combined with their extended deployment schedules. These factors combined to create inescapable, and extremely dangerous, cumulative exposure levels that substantially increased the likelihood of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses.
Resources for USS Ingersoll Veterans with Asbestos-Related Diagnoses
Former USS Ingersoll crew members who’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions may qualify for compensation available through multiple channels, including Veterans Administration benefits, asbestos trust fund claims, and personal injury litigation settlements or jury awards.
Veterans Administration Claims
The Department of Veterans Affairs established specialized benefit programs after recognizing that service-connected asbestos exposure resulted in debilitating and deadly medical conditions. Veterans who can establish the connection between the circumstances and locations of their military service and their diagnosis may qualify for comprehensive healthcare benefits and disability compensation, frequently rated at 100% disability. These benefits also provide access to the VA’s specialized healthcare system, including dedicated pulmonary medicine programs, advanced diagnostic capabilities, and treatment protocolsspecifically designed for asbestos-related diseases.
Civil Litigation
In addition to pursuing VA benefits, veterans affected by asbestos exposure have legal standing to file personal injury lawsuits against the manufacturers and suppliers who provided the Navy with the asbestos products that caused their illnesses. These legal actions typically focus on the companies’ failure to provide adequate warnings about their products’ dangers, despite having comprehensive knowledge of the risks and potential health consequences. Successful litigation against these manufacturers has resulted in substantial financial compensation for veterans suffering from asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Over the last fifty years, many former asbestos manufacturers facing asbestos litigation have filed for bankruptcy protection. This led to the bankruptcy courts mandating the creation of specialized funds set aside specifically for individuals harmed by these companies’ products. While compensation from asbestos trust funds is typically lower than the amounts awarded through litigation, trust funds offer expedited payment without requiring victims to endure lengthy, adversarial legal proceedings.
Legal Help for Those with Asbestos-related Diseases
Former crew members and shipyard workers who experienced asbestos exposure on the USS Ingersoll should consult with their healthcare professionals about appropriate monitoring and specialized screening for asbestos-related diseases, as early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes and prognosis. If you’ve received a frightening diagnosis, consulting with an experienced mesothelioma attorney can provide comprehensive information about available options and resources.
Whether you’re interested in pursuing a claim for VA benefits, a claim against an asbestos trust fund, or personal injury litigation, qualified legal professionals can provide essential assistance. Mesothelioma attorneys can help document service records, identify specific asbestos-containing products used aboard Fletcher-class destroyers, and develop effective strategies for maximizing financial support for affected veterans and their families.
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