The USS Kenneth D. Bailey (DD-713/DDR-713) was a Gearing class destroyer launched and commissioned in 1945. Though the ship didn’t deploy in the World War II combat she was built for, she played an integral role in the U.S. Navy’s later military history as a radar picket destroyer. Though the USS Kenneth D. Bailey served with honor, the Navy ship has also been linked to many veterans’ malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses, as their service exposed them to asbestos-containing materials that were found throughout the vessel.
About the USS Kenneth D. Bailey
The USS Kenneth D. Bailey was built in Kearny, New Jersey, by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, a shipyard noted for its high productivity and for having exposed many shipyard workers to asbestos. The yard is noted for having built more destroyers from 1930 through the end of the Gearing class than any other shipbuilder, including the Bath Iron Works, and for doing it faster than any other yard.
The Kenneth D. Bailey was the 4th Gearing-class destroyer built at Federal’s facility.[1] She was laid down in September 1944 and christened in June 1945. The ship’s name honored Major Kenneth D. Bailey of the U.S. Marine Corps, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his heroic actions during the Battle of Guadalcanal in September 1942.[2]
As a Gearing-class destroyer, the USS Kenneth D. Bailey reflected the many improvements that were made to the Fletcher-class destroyers that saw most of the action in World War II. The Gearing class and Allan M. Sumner class destroyers added a gun barrel with half the turrets to destroyers’ previous design, freeing up space on and below deck, and the Gearing class saw an additional key improvement that extended the length of its hull by 14 feet. This simple change made a big difference, increasing both range and cruising speed. Gearing-class ships like the Kenneth D. Bailey carried a crew of 336 and had an operational range of 4,500 nautical miles at 20 knots.[3]
The ship displaced 3,460 tons when fully loaded and her engine and boiler rooms were equipped with General Electric geared steam turbines and boilers, all of which contained insulation, gaskets, and other parts made with asbestos. The ship’s interior spaces were notoriously cramped, and this was particularly true of the poorly ventilated engine and boiler rooms, putting sailors assigned to work in these areas at significant risk of malignant mesothelioma and other illnesses.[3]
USS Kenneth D. Bailey Active Service and Tours of Duty
Too late to participate in World War II, after her shakedown in the Caribbean, the Kenneth D. Bailey sailed to Norfolk for various duties along the East Coast, including local operations and training exercises in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. She operated primarily with the Atlantic Fleet during her early years of service.
In the late 1940s, the USS Kenneth D. Bailey deployed with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean and then returned to Norfolk in early 1950. Over the next several years, she completed multiple deployments to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, establishing a strong U.S. naval presence as Cold War fears grew. She also conducted operations from Norfolk to Nova Scotia and the Caribbean.
In the early 1950s, radar technology became increasingly important for defense, and the USS Kenneth D. Bailey was sent to the Boston Naval Shipyard for conversion to a radar picket destroyer (DDR-713). These significant modifications included the installation of advanced radar equipment and the removal of some weaponry to accommodate new systems. Her enhanced radar capabilities allowed her to provide early warning against air attacks.[3]
After her conversion, the USS Kenneth D. Bailey continued to serve primarily in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. She participated in numerous NATO exercises, showing the flag in European ports and conducting training operations. Through the early 1960s, she made regular deployments with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, serving as an early warning platform for carrier groups. She also supported America’s space program by serving as a recovery station for early space missions.[3]
As Cold War tensions escalated around Berlin and Cuba, the Kenneth D. Bailey was deployed to strategic areas as part of the U.S. Navy’s show of force and readiness. In the mid-1960s, the ship underwent another overhaul, this time at the Charleston Naval Shipyard where her specialized radar equipment was modified or replaced. The ship was eventually reclassified back to DD-713, as radar picket destroyers became less essential as more advanced airborne early warning systems were introduced.[3]
For the remainder of the 1960s, the USS D. Bailey continued patrol and anti-submarine duties in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Despite her valuable service, the wear and tear of decades of operations, combined with the Navy’s shift toward more modern vessels, eventually led to her being decommissioned in 1970. The ship was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register shortly after her decommissioning and the ship was sold for scrap in 1971, bringing an end to her 25 years of service to the U.S. Navy.[3]
Where Was Asbestos Used on the USS Kenneth D. Bailey?
Like most naval vessels built during the war years and through the 1970s, the construction of the USS Kenneth D. Bailey relied heavily on asbestos. At the time, the health risks associated with the mineral were not known to the public, and while many of the companies behind the asbestos-containing materials had known for years of its link to cancer, their owners and management either ignored or actively hid and withheld the information to continue earning profits. Unaware of the risks that the material was posing to service members and thinking that it would protect its human and physical assets, the military specifically requested that asbestos be used in hundreds of applications. Its affordability, availability, exceptional fire resistance, and heat insulation combined to make it seem particularly well-suited for naval applications.
Under the Navy’s specifications, asbestos was present throughout the USS Kenneth D. Bailey and almost all other Navy vessels. It was used extensively for pipe insulation throughout the ship, in adhesives, flooring, deck coatings, and firefighting and safety gear worn by the crew. More than anywhere else, it was found in significant quantities in the areas housing high-temperature machinery and steam systems such as the engine rooms, boiler rooms, turbine rooms, and machine rooms, the locations that required the most heat protection.
How Were Sailors on the USS Kenneth D. Bailey Exposed to Asbestos?
Malignant mesothelioma is diagnosed in approximately 3,500 Americans every year, and roughly one-third of those diagnosed are U.S. Navy veterans. This is a direct result of the widespread use of asbestos on all Navy vessels built before 1980, including the USS Kenneth D. Bailey. Though every service member who served onboard the ship faced significant daily exposure, those who worked in the ship’s engine rooms and other confined, high-heat areas were at the greatest risk.
As materials containing asbestos deteriorate—whether from daily use, physical damage, or routine upkeep—they become friable. This means they break apart easily, releasing microscopic fibers that are too small to see but which can be unknowingly inhaled. Once inside the body, these sharp, needle-like fibers embed into tissue, where they are nearly impossible to remove through coughing or other natural defenses. Over time, they can cause asbestosis, lung diseases, or, in severe cases, asbestos-related cancers such as malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Although airborne asbestos posed a risk to anyone on the ship, those most vulnerable aboard the Kenneth D. Bailey included:
•Sailors working in the ship’s confined engine and boiler rooms with limited ventilation.
•Maintenance and repair workers who handled asbestos-laden materials like pipe insulation.
Asbestos fibers also traveled through the ship’s environment on the hair, skin, and clothing of those who worked in those areas, spreading the risk and introducing the fibers into living quarters, dining areas, and other stations throughout the ship. Several veterans who served aboard the USS Kenneth D. Bailey have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases, including malignant mesothelioma. Their cases exemplify the tragic health consequences caused by the widespread use of asbestos in naval construction during this period. And the damage wasn’t restricted to those who served on the ship. The two extensive overhauls that the USS Kenneth D. Bailey underwent in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as routine maintenance while she was in port, extended the risk to shipyard workers.
Benefits and Compensation Available to Navy Veterans with Mesothelioma
Navy veterans who served on or worked on the USS Kenneth D. Bailey were put at significant risk from the asbestos that was found throughout the ship. While certain crew members experienced higher levels of asbestos exposure than others due to their work assignments, every service member on the ship suffered exposure that put them at risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses — a concern that rightly worries the remaining veterans who served on the ship.
Even if you are currently healthy, if you served on the Kenneth D. Bailey or any other Navy ship built between the 1930s and 1980, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor about your asbestos exposure history. With that information in your medical records, your healthcare provider will monitor you for the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases. This increased vigilance will boost your chance of early detection and prompt treatment that makes a difference in your long-term outcome.
If you served on the USS Kenneth D. Bailey and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, a compassionate mesothelioma attorney can guide you through the VA claims process and help you secure the benefits and support to which you’re entitled. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes that military service likely contributed to many veterans’ illnesses and has established malignant mesothelioma as a 100% disabling condition. The VA provides comprehensive benefits to veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases who can show that they suffered service-related asbestos exposure: You may be eligible for disability compensation as well as specialized medical care from treatment centers across the country.
Contact an Asbestos Attorney for Help
In addition to helping you navigate the complexities of applying for help from the VA, an experienced asbestos attorney can also help you get justice for the wrong that was done to you. They can assist you in seeking compensation from the manufacturers responsible for supplying asbestos-containing materials to the military, and specifically onboard the USS Kenneth D. Bailey. Partnering with a law firm experienced in asbestos cases gives you access to extensive records of past claims, allowing your attorney to match your service history with known asbestos suppliers for your ship.
Many veterans have expressed concern about whether companies that provided the carcinogenic material years ago still exist. If the companies linked to your exposure have filed for bankruptcy due to asbestos-related liabilities, you may still be eligible for compensation through dedicated asbestos trust funds they were required to establish for future victims.
A mesothelioma lawyer can explain the process for each of these options, as well as make you aware of deadlines called statutes of limitations that control the date by which you need to file claims after being diagnosed. With their help, you can move forward to make well-informed decisions that safeguard your rights and take care of your family’s future.
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