USS New (DD-818) and Asbestos

The USS New (DD-818) served the United States Navy for three decades, spanning the early Cold War, Middle East crises, and Vietnam conflict. Like all vessels of her generation, this Gearing-class destroyer was constructed with extensive amounts of asbestos-containing materials throughout her systems and compartments. Many who served aboard this ship have since developed mesothelioma and other illnesses caused by their exposure to this dangerous mineral.

About the USS New and Its Namesake

The USS New was a Gearing-class destroyer designated DD-818. It operated in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1976, during which time she underwent multiple reclassifications reflecting changing mission requirements and technological advances. For several years she served as a destroyer escort under the number DDE-818. Later, she underwent FRAM (Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization) upgrades that enhanced her capabilities.[1] Unfortunately, the work done to accomplish this may have increased the asbestos exposure risks for her crew, as well as for the shipyard workers responsible for the work.

The warship was named in honor of Private First Class John Dury New, a Marine born in Mobile, Alabama in 1924. After enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1941, PFC New served with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He fought courageously on Guadalcanal and New Britain before sailing for Peleliu, Palau Islands, where a Japanese soldier threw a grenade toward Marines directing mortar fire against enemy emplacements. Recognizing the danger, PFC New threw himself upon the grenade. For this selfless act and heroism, Private First Class New was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.[1]

Construction of the USS New

The USS New (DD-818) was laid down in April 1945, by Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas. She was launched in August 1945, with Mrs. Barbara Julien, sister of PFC John D. New, serving as sponsor. Commander M.S. Schmidling assumed command when the destroyer was commissioned in April 1946.[1]

Like all Gearing-class destroyers, the New displaced 2,425 tons standard and measured 390 feet 6 inches in length, with a beam of 41 feet 1 inch and a draft of 18 feet 6 inches. Her propulsion system was powered by Babcock & Wilcox boilers and General Electric turbines, which generated speeds up to 34 knots. The ship carried a complement of 367 officers and enlisted personnel and an original armament including six 5-inch guns, sixteen 40mm anti-aircraft guns, four 20mm anti-aircraft guns, five 21-inch torpedo tubes, and one depth charge projector, though these were replaced and upgraded over the years of the ship’s service.[2]

During the mid-1940s, when the New was constructed, shipbuilders routinely included asbestos throughout naval vessels. This was in part due to its characteristic thermal insulation, fire resistance, electrical insulation, and durability and in part due to Navy specifications. 

The military mandated the use of asbestos in many applications, favoring it for its effective sound absorption, light weight, low cost, and availability and unaware that the mineral posed serious health hazards, they saw it as providing a safety and strength advantage for their physical and human assets.

USS New’s Deployment History

Early Mediterranean Operations

Following her Caribbean shakedown and East Coast training exercises, the New departed for the Mediterranean in 1946, operating off the Greek coast with the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in support of American diplomatic efforts. After completing these support operations, the New operated alongside British warships in the Adriatic Sea to prevent potential hostilities between Italy and Yugoslavia over Trieste.

Atlantic Fleet Operations and Cold War Service

In February 1947, the New returned to the United States, where she underwent an overhaul before beginning three years of Atlantic Fleet operations. Her duties included type training and antisubmarine warfare exercises. In 1949 and 1950, she added midshipman training cruises to her operational schedule.

In September 1950, following her reclassification to DDE-818, the New departed Norfolk for a month-long NATO exercise in the Mediterranean. Upon her return, she resumed local operations. For the following six years, the New alternated tours in the Mediterranean with Atlantic duties. In 1956, she joined the Navy’s antisubmarine force, conducted midshipman training, and became the flagship of DesRon 36.

Middle East Crisis Response

In May 1958, the New left for her eighth Mediterranean deployment with the 6th Fleet, participating in operations responding to Lebanese President Chamoun’s request for assistance in countering a coup attempt. As one of the first vessels on station, she patrolled the Beirut area, prepared to evacuate American nationals if circumstances required.

Cuban Missile Crisis and FRAM Modernization

In 1962, the New was reclassified back to DD-818. After conducting summer midshipman training, she participated in the Cuban Quarantine, then engaged in antisubmarine screening and surface vessel surveillance as part of Task Group Bravo.

Following her Caribbean deployment, the New entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for FRAM Mark I conversion. This comprehensive modernization equipped her with the ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) system and other advanced capabilities. In December 1963, the modernized ship returned to active duty. She participated in antisubmarine warfare exercises and a midshipmen training cruise, and in 1965 she assumed patrol duties in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf to support Royal Navy operations.

Vietnam War

In 1967, the New was deployed to the Western Pacific. By August, she was at Da Nang, South Vietnam, assuming duties on the Northern Search and Rescue Station in Tonkin Gulf as part of Task Force 77. In late September, she provided fire support off Quang Ngai for the 2nd ROK Marine Brigade and 1st U.S. Marine Division during Operation “Dragon Fire.” In November she provided additional fire support south of the DMZ, continuing these operations until returning in January 1968.

Final Years and Transfer

Throughout 1968, the New participated in the search for the lost submarine USS Scorpion before another Middle East deployment. She sailed to Recife, then around the Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Ocean and made goodwill visits to Lourenco Marques, Diego Suarez, Mombasa, Djibouti, and Bombay. In July 1969, the New participated in the Apollo 11 recovery operations, and later that year, she conducted DASO operations at Cape Kennedy and served as a sonar school ship. Following various refits and training operations through the early 1970s, the New was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in July 1976 and transferred to South Korea in February 1977.

Asbestos Contamination Throughout the USS New

The USS New contained extensive asbestos materials throughout the ship, but certain areas presented severe exposure risks due to their heavy concentration of asbestos-containing materials and poor ventilation. These included:

• These ship’s machinery compartments contained extensive asbestos insulation surrounding boilers, turbines, pumps, and valves. Thermal insulation blankets, gaskets, and packing materials typically contained high concentrations of asbestos.
• The ship’s steam and water systems were extensive piping networks wrapped in asbestos insulation.
• Electrical wiring systems, control panels, and related equipment used asbestos for its conductivity, fire-resistance, and insulating properties.
• Living spaces including crew quarters and mess areas contained asbestos in floor tiles, ceiling materials, wall insulation, and fire-resistant doors.
• Firefighting equipment and protective gear used by damage control teams often incorporated asbestos for its thermal protection.

The New’s 1962-1963 FRAM modernization at Norfolk Naval Shipyard both disturbed existing asbestos materials and added new asbestos-containing equipment to the vessel. This activity sent asbestos fibers into the air, where it could be inhaled by shipyard workers and crew members.

Personnel at Heightened Risk for Asbestos Exposure 

While all personnel serving aboard the USS New faced the risk of asbestos exposure onboard the ship, certain ratings and specialties came with significantly higher risks based on their work environments and responsibilities:

• Machinist’s Mates operated and maintained propulsion systems, putting them in direct contact with asbestos-insulated equipment in confined engineering spaces.
• Boiler workers managed the ship’s steam generation systems and worked in environments with high asbestos concentrations.
• Damage controlmen were responsible for emergency repairs, and frequently disturbed asbestos-containing materials during their duties.
• Hull maintenance technicians performed structural repairs, and regularly encountered asbestos insulation throughout the vessel.
• Pipefitters worked with the ship’s extensive piping systems and routinely handled asbestos-wrapped pipes and components.
• Electricians installed and maintained electrical systems, which often required interaction with asbestos-containing materials.
• Civilian and military shipyard workers involved in the New’s construction, FRAM modernization, and subsequent overhauls experienced significant exposure. The confined nature of shipboard environments, with limited ventilation and enclosed spaces, magnified exposure risks. Asbestos fibers could remain suspended in the air for extended periods and circulate throughout compartments, potentially exposing even personnel who did not work directly with asbestos-containing materials.

Health Impact of Asbestos Exposure for USS New Veterans

Exposure to asbestos can lead to several serious, often fatal health conditions. Many of these illnesses have extended latency periods, which means they don’t begin to cause symptoms until 20 to 50 years after initial exposure. As a result, many USS New veterans have only recently been diagnosed to diseases caused by their long-ago service.

Common asbestos-related conditions affecting naval veterans include:

• Mesothelioma: An aggressive, fatal form of cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It is very rare, and almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
• Asbestosis: A chronic, progressive lung disease characterized by scarring of lung tissue and leading to breathing difficulties and reduced oxygen transfer.
• Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure substantially increases lung cancer risk, especially when combined with tobacco use.
• Pleural Abnormalities: These non-cancerous conditions affect the lining of the lungs, and include plaques, thickening, and effusions that can affect respiratory function.
• Additional Malignancies: Research has linked asbestos exposure to cancers affecting the larynx, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.

These conditions, though varied, share the fact that they result in significant medical expenses, diminished quality of life, reduced earning capacity, and premature death for affected veterans and their families.

Compensation for Veterans with Asbestos-Related Illness

If you’re a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS New and you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you have three primary avenues for compensation:

VA Benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs has recognized the role that military service exposure to asbestos has played in the development of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Eligible veterans may receive:

• Disability compensation (with mesothelioma typically qualifying for 100% disability rating)
• Specialized healthcare from physicians experienced in treating asbestos diseases
• Support services, including home healthcare and medical equipment

To qualify, veterans must document their naval service history and establish the connection between their duties and current illness.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Many asbestos product manufacturers facing enormous asbestos liabilities established bankruptcy trust funds to compensate victims. These trusts collectively manage billions of dollars for affected individuals. Veterans can file claims against these funds, even if the companies no longer exist, by providing:

• Documentation of asbestos exposure circumstances
• Confirmation of medical diagnosis of an asbestos-related condition

Legal Claims

Veterans and their survivors can pursue lawsuits against companies responsible for asbestos products used in naval vessels through:

• Personal injury lawsuits for medical expenses and pain and suffering
• Wrongful death actions for families who have lost loved ones

Importantly, filing a lawsuit won’t impact your eligibility for VA benefits: Veterans can pursue and receive multiple compensation paths at the same time.

Each of the processes required for compensation can be very complicated, but you can get help navigating the complexities by contacting a mesothelioma attorney. These lawyers have extensive experience and resources specifically related to asbestos cases. They can provide invaluable help to veterans, assisting them with collecting documentation that satisfies eligibility requirements, identifying responsible parties for inclusion in litigation, meeting filing deadlines, and maximizing your compensation.