The USS James Monroe (SSBN-622) was a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine that served America throughout the Cold War era, from 1963 to 1990. Though she represented the height of underwater warfare technology, the widespread use of asbestos throughout her structure created serious health risks for the approximately 2,600 sailors who served on board. These veterans are now at risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and other deadly diseases linked to asbestos exposure.
History of the USS James Monroe and Lafayette-Class Submarines
The USS James Monroe (SSBN-622) was named in honor of America’s fifth president, James Monroe, whose famous Monroe Doctrine became a guiding principle of American foreign policy. In response to the vessel’s name, her crew adopted President Monroe’s philosophy of “Watchful Waiting” as their official motto. This reflected their mission of maintaining constant readiness for their Cold War nuclear deterrent operations.[1]
Lafayette-class submarines like the Monroe were the backbone of the Navy’s strategic deterrence during this time, and represented the evolution of the earlier Ethan Allen-class vessels. The James Monroe and her sister vessels measured 425 feet in length with a 33-foot beam. They displaced 7,325 tons when surfaced, 8,251 tons when submerged, and operated with dual crew systems consisting of 14 officers and 126 enlisted personnel who alternated between Blue and Gold crews. Her propulsion came from an S5W Westinghousenuclear reactor driving two geared steam turbines that generated 15,000 shaft horsepower and enabled speeds of 16 knots surfaced and 21 knots submerged. The submarine’s armament included 16 ballistic missile tubes and four forward torpedo tubes, with operational diving capabilities to 1,300 feet.[2]
Construction History and Operational Service
Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company laid the James Monroe’s keel down in July 1961, and she was launched in August 1962. She was commissioned in December 1963 under Commander William H. Sandeford for the Blue Crew and Commander Warren R. Cobean, Jr. for the Gold Crew.[1]
After being commissioned, the submarine completed shakedown operations in the British West Indies, Fort Lauderdale, and Cape Kennedy. In early 1964, she participated in ballistic missile testing and fired her first successful missile launch in February 1964. She left Charleston, South Carolina, for her first strategic patrol in June of that year, carrying 16 Polaris A-2 missiles.
The James Monroe was based in multiple locations throughout her career. Initially homeported in Charleston, South Carolina, she was transferred in June 1965 to Submarine Squadron Fourteen based in Holy Loch, Scotland. From there, her operational assignments sent her between European Polaris replenishment facilities in Holy Loch, Scotland, and Rota, Spain, consistently maintaining America’s nuclear deterrent presence during the tense Cold War environment.
The submarine underwent her first major overhaul at Charleston Naval Shipyard in January 1968, becoming the first Polaris A-2 submarine to receive A-3 capability upgrades. This extensive retrofit included reactor refueling, strategic weapons system conversion, and navigation system updates. It was completed in September 1969.
In late 1969, the James Monroe transitioned to Pacific Fleet operations. She arrived at Pearl Harbor in January 1970 and began deterrent patrols from Polaris Point in Apra Harbor, Guam, as part of Submarine Squadron 15. She completed 35 strategic patrols while on this assignment.
The James Monroe returned to Newport News Shipbuilding in October 1974 for her second overhaul, which included nuclear refueling and conversion to Poseidon C-3 missile capability. This overhaul, completed in May 1977, gave her longer-range, more accurate weaponry and extended her operational capabilities.
During the 1980s, the James Monroe continued her deterrent missions while operating from Kings Bay, Georgia. This location became a permanent submarine base in July 1979. She underwent extended refits in 1981, 1984, and 1987 to maintain her operational readiness and extend her service life.
During her 26-year career, the James Monroe completed 78 strategic deterrent patrols and recorded over 750,000 miles. Her exceptional service earned numerous commendations, including two Meritorious Unit Commendations, three consecutive Battle Effectiveness Awards, and multiple engineering and operational excellence recognitions.[1]
The USS James Monroe was deactivated in October 1989, decommissioned in September 1990, and disposed of through the Ship Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in January 1995.
The Navy’s Use of Asbestos
Before and during the Cold War era, the United States Navy incorporated extensive amounts of asbestos materials across its entire fleet. Submarine construction represented some of the most intensive use due to the extreme conditions that they faced. Submarines required particularly robust protection against fire and heat-related failures, and military engineers valued asbestos for its exceptional thermal resistance, superior insulation properties, and chemical durability.
The James Monroe and subsequent modifications and retrofits occurred during the peak of naval asbestos use. Strategic imperatives and military specifications mandated that asbestos be integrated across all submarine systems. The mounting evidence and medical research that linked asbestos to fatal respiratory conditions and cancers were kept from the military administration, and so they continued using these materials throughout the 1970s.
Acknowledging the Hazards of Asbestos
By 1973, the hazards of asbestos were undeniable. The Navy acknowledged the issue and began limiting the use of the mineral in all new construction and major overhauls. Though by 1975, new installations had largely eliminated asbestos materials, existing asbestos remained undisturbed in thousands of vessels until maintenance required removal.[3]
The contamination throughout the fleet created enormous logistical challenges. The Navy implemented comprehensive control measures, including detailed material surveys, specialized personnel training for asbestos encounters during repairs, and strict handling protocols, but decided that complete removal would be too impractical. Facing the realities of the massive scope of the problem, the Navy chose to focus on containment, encapsulation, and careful monitoring until affected vessels could be retired. It is unknown how many Navy veterans and shipyard workers were exposed to asbestos as a result of this decision.
Asbestos Contamination Throughout the USS James Monroe
The USS James Monroe contained asbestos materials in virtually every one of its compartments and systems. Military construction standards required asbestos-containing products wherever thermal protection, fire resistance, or insulation was needed, and this resulted in its widespread distribution throughout the submarine.
Engineering and Propulsion Areas
The submarine’s reactor compartment, engine rooms, and auxiliary machinery spaces were built with extensive asbestos insulation in their walls to protect equipment and personnel from extreme temperatures. Steam lines, exhaust systems, and propulsion equipment were all wrapped or coated with asbestos-containing materials, while thermal blankets and gloves containing the carcinogenic material provided crew protection from hot surfaces. Critical valves, joints, and sealing components incorporated asbestos gasketsto prevent system failures and ensure operational integrity.
Crew Quarters and Workspaces
Asbestos-infused flooring materials, bulkhead panels, overhead components, and protective finishes throughout the crew’s sleeping quarters, dining areas, and workspaces. Electrical distribution systems relied heavily on asbestos-containing wire insulation, conduit materials, and switchboard components, while emergency response equipment, including fire suppression systems and protective devices, incorporated asbestos fibers for high-temperature protection.
Life Support and Ventilation Systems
Air management equipment and ventilation systems essential for the submarine’s sealed environment circulated asbestos particles released during routine maintenance and from the system’s own contaminated components. Standard supplies, repair materials, and adhesive compounds contained significant concentrations of the mineral’s fibers, and the submarine’s weapon systems also relied on asbestos for thermal and fire protection in missile compartments.
Personnel Exposed to Asbestos Hazards Aboard the USS James Monroe
Every sailor who served on the USS James Monroe and every shipyard worker involved in her overhauls and maintenance faced potential asbestos exposure due to the pervasive presence of asbestos-containing materials throughout the vessel. The submarine’s confined spaces and limited air circulation caused microscopic asbestos fibers to disperse throughout all compartments when disturbed by repair work, equipment operation, or daily activities.
Submarine environments create unique exposure risks because they are completely enclosed the majority of the time that they operate. With minimal fresh air exchange and continuous recirculation of air containing asbestos fibers, the risk of exposure or all personnel onboard was high. While all crew members faced this risk, certain specialties were at even greater danger because of their specific responsibilities and work locations. These included:
- Engine room personnel
- Reactor operators
- Electrical technicians
- Missile system specialists
- Electronics technicians
- Maintenance personnel handling asbestos removal
- Weapons specialists
Even crew members who weren’t directly involved in handling or working near asbestos faced exposure, as the clothing of those who did was contaminated with the deadly fibers and transported throughout the submarine. Shared ventilation systems and asbestos materials present in the components of common areas also posed a risk. Asbestos fibers disturbed in one location could easily migrate throughout the entire vessel, potentially affecting every person aboard.
Asbestos-Related Health Consequences
Asbestos exposure’s severe health risks can remain dormant for decades before manifesting as life-threatening illnesses. The mineral’s fibrous structure allows it to break into microscopic particles when disturbed, releasing fine dust that can be inhaled or ingested. These particles can become lodged in lung tissue, chest cavity lining, and other organs, where their sharp, needle-like structure can cause cell death, chronic inflammation, and other damage that ultimately leads to malignancies, scarring, and other disabling conditions.
Mesothelioma is the most devastating of all the asbestos-related diseases. This rare and invariably fatal cancer is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, and veterans represent roughly one-third of those diagnosed with the illness. Patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma typically survive only 12 to 21 months following diagnosis, while peritoneal mesothelioma patients may live somewhat longer. This aggressive cancer attacks the mesothelium, a protective membrane that surrounds the body’s internal organs to keep them from sticking to one another. Symptoms typically appear 20 to 50 years after exposure, and include chest pain, breathing difficulties, persistent cough, and abdominal swelling.
Beyond mesothelioma, asbestos exposure dramatically increases the risk of lung cancer. Asbestos-related lung cancer may not develop until 15 to 35 years after exposure and generally presents symptoms similar to other types of lung cancer. These include chronic cough, chest pain, and respiratory problems. Risk increases substantially when asbestos exposure combines with cigarette smoking.
Asbestosis is a chronic lung condition where asbestos exposure causes inflammation followed by progressive scarring of lung tissue. Over time, it leads to worsening breathing difficulties, persistent cough, and significant chest pain.
Pleural plaques, pleural effusions, and diffuse pleural thickening are all debilitating asbestos-linked conditions that affect quality of life. These conditions impact the lung lining, creating breathing difficulties and pain. They are often warning signs of future cancer diagnoses.
Benefits and Legal Options for USS James Monroe Veterans
Many Navy veterans who served aboard the USS James Monroe and similar submarines have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Their illness have been blamed on asbestos manufacturers’ failure to warn of the material’s dangers, and lawsuits seeking justice have resulted in significant jury verdicts and out-of-court settlements.
While an asbestos-related diagnosis is overwhelming, those who are affected have multiple options for support and compensation. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes the impact of military asbestos exposure and provides disability benefits and specialized medical treatment. Additionally, many veterans have successfully pursued justice against asbestos manufacturers and suppliers responsible for their exposure, resulting in billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements.
Department of Veterans Affairs Support
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers comprehensive benefits for veterans with service-connected asbestos-related conditions. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis can file claims for disability compensation, specialized medical treatment, and additional benefits for family members. The VA recognizes mesothelioma as a service-connected condition for veterans exposed during military service and expedites the claims process for affected individuals. Mesothelioma’s classification as 100% disabling ensures maximum compensation eligibility.
Civil Litigation
Beyond VA benefits, veterans are often eligible to pursue legal action against the manufacturers and distributors of the asbestos-containing products used aboard their vessels, as well as in civilian applications where they may have been exposed. While veterans can’t sue the Navy or federal government directly, they can reference their service environments to seek compensation from private companies. Successful litigation can yield monies to cover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Thousands of cases have been successfully resolved against companies that manufactured insulation, seals, valves, pumps, and other asbestos-containing materials found aboard submarines like the USS James Monroe.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Asbestos compensation trusts are another important source of financial support for affected veterans. While these funds don’t typically distribute amounts comparable to what is received through successful litigation, they offer an appealing alternative to pursuing lengthy and demanding legal proceedings. Established specifically to compensate victims diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses decades after exposure, these trusts have paid billions in claims and maintain approximately $30 billion for future victims.
Legal Support for USS James Monroe Veterans with Mesothelioma Diagnoses
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions should consult with qualified asbestos attorneys as soon as possible following diagnosis. These specialized legal professionals focus on assisting victims who’ve experienced either occupational exposure, military exposure, or both. They understand the unique challenges of documenting naval service exposure and possess extensive resources to identify all potentially liable parties and available compensation sources based on the individual’s work and service history. Beyond developing and implementing comprehensive legal strategies, they assist with preparing and filing VA claims. Their goal is to minimize the burden on affected veterans and their families while maximizing available compensation.
Though your diagnosis may have come as a shock, it’s important that you don’t take too much time before taking action. Government-imposed statutes of limitations apply to personal injury claims, including those involving asbestos-related diseases. Affected veterans who want to learn more about pursuing legal action need to contact legal counsel promptly after diagnosis. Doing so gives your mesothelioma attorney the time they need to begin gathering service records, medical documentation, and other evidence necessary for building a strong case on your behalf. With proper legal representation, veterans who were sickened after serving aboard the USS James Monroe can access the benefits and compensation they deserve.
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