The USS Ingersoll (DD-990) was a Spruance-class destroyer that served the U.S. Navy for a short time, from 1980 to 1998. Though she was one of the most technologically advanced destroyers of her era, the ship was built during a transitional period when the Navy was phasing out asbestos, but still had legacy inventory containing the toxic material, and used it. Navy veterans who served aboard the ship, as well as shipyard workers involved in her construction and maintenance, now confront serious concerns about their risk of mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other life-threatening conditions.
About the USS Ingersoll
The Ship’s Namesake
The USS Ingersoll was named to honor Admiral Royal Eason Ingersoll, a naval officer born in Washington, D.C., in 1883. Ingersoll graduated from the Naval Academy in 1905 and served in both world wars. During World War I, he earned the Navy Cross for his distinguished service, but his most significant contribution came during World War II, when he was named Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. From 1942 to 1944, he supervised the movement of thousands of ships across the Atlantic for the North African invasion in November 1942, never losing a troop ship. His son, Lieutenant Royal Rodney Ingersoll II, was killed at the Battle of Midway in 1942. This combination of wartime leadership and family sacrifice led to the naming of USS Ingersoll (DD-990) in his honor, and the USS Ingersoll (DD-652) was named for his son.[1]
Construction of the Spruance Class Destroyers and the USS Ingersoll
The USS Ingersoll was laid down in December 1977, at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by Ingalls Shipbuilding. As one of 31 Spruance-class destroyers built, the USS Ingersoll was designed to defend nuclear aircraft carrier battle groups against submarine threats. These ships were significantly larger than their World War II predecessors and featured four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines that propelled them to speeds exceeding 32 knots. They measured 563 feet overall, displaced 8,040 tons when fully loaded, and operated with a crew of 334 personnel.
Despite their advanced engineering, Navy records confirm that Spruance-class destroyers, including the USS Ingersoll, were constructed with hazardous asbestos-containing components, particularly in gaskets, brake linings, and insulation materials. According to official government documentation, “Although specifications for thermal insulation materials had been revised in 1973 to mandate asbestos-free alternatives, toxic materials had already been procured and, in many instances, installed during construction. Consequently, several ships were completed with asbestos insulation as late as May 1978.”[2]
In addition to ceasing the use of asbestos-containing materials, naval authorities reviewed what action should be taken in light of the health hazards posed by the mineral. They concluded that a comprehensive $2 billion asbestos elimination program would not be cost-effective, choosing instead to implement procedures for a more incremental approach, removing deteriorated asbestos insulation and substituting it with safer materials in high-maintenance sections and then addressing the rest of it over time. Although the Navy estimated this strategy would eliminate the majority of thermal asbestos insulation within five years, they also recognized that 30-50% of the hazardous material would remain undisturbed throughout the vessel’s service life. Five decades later, asbestos specialists have noted that many veterans who served on those ships are now beginning to experience symptoms of exposure-related diseases.
Early Service and Notable Operations
Launched in March 1979 and commissioned in April 1980, the Ingersoll was initially homeported in San Diego, California, before moving to Long Beach for overhaul, then eventually sent to Pearl Harbor. The ship’s early career was marked by intensive training and technological advancement.[1]
In 1985, the Ingersoll became one of the first U.S. Navy ships to receive the Armored Box Launcher version of the Tomahawk cruise missile system. This early missile system variant housed up to four missiles in each of two canisters positioned forward of the pilothouse on the fore deck. However, this system proved excessively heavy and negatively affected the ship’s seakeeping capabilities. It was soon replaced by the superior Vertical Launch missile system.
Maritime Incident
On June 20, 1992, while traveling through the Straits of Malacca, the Ingersoll collided with M/V Matsumi Maru No. 7, a Pakistani oil tanker. The resulting flooding was contained, so the Ingersoll was able to reach Singapore safely. After undergoing temporary repairs in Singapore, the destroyer returned to Pearl Harbor for complete restoration and overhaul.
Decommissioning and Final Fate
Despite being among the newer vessels in the Spruance class, the Ingersoll was one of the first of her class to be decommissioned. The cost of removing the Armored Box Launcher system and installing the Vertical Launching System may have played a role in deciding that she should be retired early. The USS Ingersoll was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in July 1998. She was later sunk as a target in July 2003, near Kauai, Hawaii.
Why Did the Navy Choose Asbestos-containing Materials for Its Vessels?
Though today we know that asbestos is a carcinogenic material, for much of the 20th century, that information was kept hidden from both the public and the military. Without that knowledge, there was good reason for the Navy to want all naval vessels to be built using the material. Even once the dangers of asbestos became known and military specifications were changed to specify asbestos-free materials, many contaminated components had already been purchased and, in many cases, ended up being installed despite the potential health hazards of exposure. The USS Ingersoll was among the ships delivered with asbestos insulation.
Asbestos Distribution Throughout the USS Ingersoll
Though there weren’t as many toxic asbestos products used in the Ingersoll as in previous generations of destroyers, the material was still incorporated in virtually every section of the ship that required insulation. The highest concentrations of the toxic material were found in areas housing high-temperature equipment and the vessel’s gas turbine systems. The ship’s engineering spaces—including power generation areas, equipment rooms, and machinery compartments—featured extensive asbestos insulation surrounding piping, connections, generators, and turbines, with the material also utilized in seals, gaskets, packing compounds, and fire-resistant applications.
Beyond the engineering areas, asbestos was also integrated into deck tiles, bulkhead materials, overhead surfaces, and various adhesive products used throughout the ship’s living quarters. Even protective gear and fire suppression systems contained asbestos fibers.
Asbestos Exposure Risks for USS Ingersoll Personnel
Although the USS Ingersoll and other Spruance-class destroyers were substantially larger than vessels built during and immediately after World War II, living conditions aboard the ship remained extremely confined, and the cramped environment made it virtually impossible for crew members to avoid contact with anything circulating through the ship’s ventilation system. This included fibers of the carcinogenic material.
While asbestos generally presents minimal danger when undamaged and properly sealed or encapsulated, once it becomes compromised or starts to deteriorate, the fibrous substance breaks down into invisible particles that can easily be inhaled. Regular maintenance and repair activities, as well as the continuous vibration of the ship’s machinery and the vessels’ guns being fired, all contributed to asbestos-containing materials degrading and becoming what is known as “friable,” which is when asbestos is most dangerous.
When asbestos breaks down and releases its microscopic particles, the invisible fibers can remain airborne for prolonged periods. Floating invisibly in the air, they could be transported on sailors’ uniforms or distributed through the ship’s ventilation system, leading to them being inhaled by anyone aboard the vessel. The harm that sharp, needle-like structures can cause begins immediately upon entering the body and becoming lodged in vulnerable tissues. Both pulmonary tissue and the mesothelial membrane that allows internal organs to rest together in a cavity without sticking to one another are particularly susceptible to asbestos fibers becoming stuck, and once the cancer-causing fibers are present, it is nearly impossible for the body to eliminate them by coughing them out. Over decades, the damage and inflammation they cause in cells can result in serious health conditions, including the scarring of asbestosis and the tumors of lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.
Which Personnel Were at Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure Aboard the USS Ingersoll?
While it’s true that many Navy veterans who’ve been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses never directly handled asbestos-containing materials, those who did have a significantly higher risk of experiencing its health impacts. These personnel include:
- Engineering personnel who worked in the poorly ventilated machinery and turbine rooms, where asbestos insulation was most heavily concentrated. These areas were notoriously cramped and had poor air circulation.
- Maintenance and repair technicians who directly handled asbestos-containing materials during routine maintenance, emergency repairs, and overhaul periods.
- Shipyard employees, both during the vessel’s construction and during upgrades and repairs, when asbestos materials were disturbed during removal and replacement.
- Damage control specialists who worked with asbestos-contaminated firefighting equipment and emergency repair supplies containing asbestos.
Understanding the Consequences of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure has been directly linked to severe long-term health complications that are made more complicated by the fact that they often don’t begin to manifest symptoms for twenty to fifty years. This long latency period means that veterans who served on the USS Ingersoll at any point during her service may only now be developing symptoms of exposure-related conditions, while others may not experience symptoms or be diagnosed for decades to come.
The principal diseases connected with asbestos exposure include asbestosis, a chronic pulmonary condition that causes scarring and respiratory problems; lung cancer, which can develop in both smokers and non-smokers exposed to asbestos; and malignant mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. The probability of developing any of these diseases typically depends on how long and how intense a person’s exposure was, but there have been many victims who’ve only had brief contact with the carcinogen. Today, it is well known that the risk is magnified for those who smoked, as the combination of asbestos exposure and tobacco use dramatically increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer.
The Importance of Discussing Your Asbestos Exposure History with Healthcare Providers
If you’re a veteran who served aboard the USS Ingersoll, you should share your history of asbestos exposure with your physician, even if you currently feel healthy. This information is vital for several reasons:
- Early detection can be life-saving. Doctors who understand their patients’ asbestos exposure background can monitor for early indicators of related diseases and ensure that appropriate diagnostic tests are ordered when symptoms arise. Early-stage identification of asbestos-related diseases often results in better treatment outcomes and improved survival rates.
- Symptom recognition is essential. Your healthcare provider can educate you about specific warning signs and symptoms to look for. These include persistent cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal swelling. Veterans who recognize the diseases’ warning signs can seek medical attention sooner than those who dismiss what they’re experiencing as minor ailments.
- Specialized treatment may be required. Physicians who have been informed about the risk of asbestos-related diseases are more likely to refer you to a specialist promptly.
- Medical documentation supports benefit applications. Medical records that document your asbestos exposure history, even before diagnosis, can be extremely valuable when filing disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs or pursuing legal action against responsible manufacturers.
Support and Compensation Available to Navy Veterans with Mesothelioma
Veterans who served aboard the USS Ingersoll and who have developed an asbestos-related condition deserve and are entitled to support and compensation for the health challenges they face. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma as a 100% disabling condition, which means that veterans who demonstrate service-connected asbestos exposure may qualify for full disability benefits. These benefits include monthly compensation payments, comprehensive healthcare coverage through VA medical centers, and access to specialized treatment facilities nationwide that have experience treating asbestos-related diseases.
How a Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Make a Difference
If you’re a veteran who’s been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you face significant challenges, and having an experienced advocate can make a big difference in how you’re able to manage them. You can realize significant benefits from working with an experienced attorney who specializes in asbestos-related cases. These professionals are knowledgeable, compassionate, and have a thorough understanding of the unique issues involved with asbestos exposure during military service. They can provide you with a comprehensive range of services, including assisting you in preparing and submitting a VA disability claim and helping ensure that all the documentation you need is complete and accurate. The guidance they provide is often essential to obtaining the medical care and financial support you and your loved ones are entitled to receive.
A mesothelioma attorney can also help determine if you qualify to seek compensation from asbestos trust funds that bankrupt companies were required to establish to benefit victims who might develop illnesses caused by exposure to their products in the future. While applying to these trusts is typically less time-consuming and stressful than filing a lawsuit, the process still involves complex requirements and documentation that a legal expert can help you understand and complete.
Finally, an asbestos lawyer can take legal action on your behalf against the manufacturers and suppliers responsible for providing the military with asbestos-based products. Law firms with experience in asbestos litigation maintain detailed records of which companies provided materials to specific naval vessels and bases, as well as the compensation amounts that juries have ordered these companies to pay victims. This knowledge and their familiarity with legal precedent in asbestos cases help them identify every possible company that may be liable and help you pursue the maximum possible compensation.
Legal deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, apply to asbestos-related claims, and they vary in each state across the country. A mesothelioma attorney can help clarify the time constraints that apply to your case and ensure that your rights are protected.
