The USS Perry (DD-844) was a Gearing-class destroyer that served the United States Navy for nearly three decades, from 1946 to 1973. Demonstrating the versatility of destroyers built after World War II, the ship easily transitioned from post-war operations to advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Through all the Perry’s many deployments, one of the greatest dangers her crew faced came from the widespread incorporation of asbestos-containing materialsthroughout the vessel. Its use put them at significant risk of developing malignant mesothelioma and other serious asbestos-related diseases.
The Ship’s Namesake
The fourth U.S. Navy ship to be named Perry, the USS Perry (DD-844) was named in honor of both Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and his younger brother, Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, in honor of the significant role they played in shaping American naval history and their combined legacy of battlefield heroism and groundbreaking diplomacy. Oliver became a national hero for his victory in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, where he famously said, “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.” Matthew is recognized for his diplomatic mission to Japan in the 1850s, which ended Japan’s long isolation policy and opened trade relations between the two nations.[1]
About the USS Perry
The USS Perry (DD-844) was constructed at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Her keel was laid in May 1945, and she was launched in October, then commissioned in January 1946. Though she was ready for service too late to participate in World War II, she became an important part of America’s Cold War naval operations after the war.[1]
As a Gearing-class destroyer, the Perry’s specifications were the same as those of her 98 sister ships: She displaced 3,450 tons when fully loaded, measured 390.5 feet in length, and was powered by four Babcock & Wilcox boiler units feeding two General Electric steam turbines. Together, these provided a maximum output of 60,000 horsepower, which enabled her to achieve speeds of nearly 37 knots. Her armament included 6 x 5″ dual-purpose main guns arranged in three twin-gunned turrets and supplemented by multiple anti-aircraft weapons and torpedo tubes. The Perry carried a complement of 336 enlisted men and officers during her standard operations, and thousands served on her throughout her operational life.[2]
Construction and Major Overhauls
Following commissioning, Perry embarked on an extensive career that included multiple Mediterranean deployments, Cold War patrol duties, and eventually combat operations during the Vietnam War.
In 1959, she became the first Gearing-class destroyer to undergo the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) Mark I conversion, a comprehensive upgrade that completely transformed the Perry’s capabilities. Technicians stripped the vessel down to her main deck, installed a new aluminum superstructure, thoroughly overhauled her machinery, and upgraded her living quarters. Most importantly, she received advanced sonar technology and cutting-edge anti-submarine weaponry, including ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) and DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) systems. While this process represented a significant modernization, it also involved extensive work with asbestos-containing materials in confined spaces throughout the ship, putting both shipyard workers and any crew members who remained onboard the ship at risk.
Service and Deployment History of the USS Perry
After her commissioning, the Perry quickly embarked on international deployments, beginning with her first overseas voyage in June 1946. This eight-month cruise took her to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, where she visited 58 cities across 22 countries. Throughout the late 1940s and 1950s, she alternated between Mediterranean deployments and stateside operations, serving various roles including plane guard duties, engineering school ship, and gunnery training vessel.[1]
This pattern continued through the 1960s and included such diverse missions as Caribbean patrols, space program support, and training exercises. In 1969, she deployed to the Western Pacific, operating off Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. After participating in Japan’s Black Ship Festival, she returned to Mediterranean service in 1970 before conducting her final Vietnam deployment in 1972, providing naval gunfire support for South Vietnamese forces.
On July 1, 1973, after 27 years of distinguished service, the USS Perry was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register. She was subsequently sold for scrap in June 1974.
The U.S. Navy’s History of Using Asbestos in Shipbuilding
The United States Navy’s relationship with asbestos spans nearly a century of shipbuilding and represents one of the most tragic occupational health crises in military history. Beginning in the early 1900s and continuing through the 1980s, the Navy systematically incorporated asbestos-containing materials into virtually every aspect of naval vessel construction and maintenance, eventually mandating its use until the time that its dangers became public knowledge.[3]
There were many reasons why the Navy favored the use of asbestos. The mineral’s unique properties made it seem to be ideal for maritime applications. Asbestos provided exceptional heat resistance, electrical insulation, and fire suppression capabilities while remaining lightweight and cost-effective. During the World War II era and the subsequent Cold War period, these characteristics were considered essential for naval operations, where engine room temperatures could exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit and fire presented a constant threat to crew safety.
The Navy’s adoption of asbestos was so comprehensive that it became standard practice across all vessel types, from massive aircraft carriers to smaller destroyers like the Perry. Naval architects and engineers specified asbestos-containing materials for hundreds of applications, creating what would later be recognized as one of the most extensive and far-reaching workplace exposure scenarios in American industrial history. The military’s trust in asbestos was so complete that safety protocols for handling the material were virtually nonexistent, and crew members routinely worked with these dangerous substances without protective equipment or adequate ventilation. In later years, it was determined that the asbestos companies that sold the toxic materials to the government had the knowledge and the power to provide safety warnings, but chose to hide the truth about the material so that the government would continue to buy it from them.
How Was Asbestos Used Aboard the USS Perry?
The way that the USS Perry was built and its materials sourced was standard naval construction practice between the 1930s and 1980s. Though the men who served onboard the ship were unaware of its dangers, its presence in nearly every area of the ship created an environment that caused health problems in crew members for decades, and which may still be causing problems today. Ship designers and contractors were asked to include the mineral into countless shipboard systems due to its remarkable thermal properties and structural reinforcement capabilities. Its ability to withstand extreme temperatures while providing both insulation and flame resistance made it seem indispensable for naval applications.
Naval vessels like the Perry needed significant amounts of heat-resistant materials because of their complex mechanical systems and the constant threat of fire at sea. Since asbestos seemed to be the best fit for these needs, it ended up being used in virtually every compartment and system aboard the destroyer, including:
Engineering Spaces and Propulsion Systems: The ship’s boiler rooms and engine compartments contained the highest concentrations of asbestos materials. Steam pipes, boiler casings, turbine housings, and related mechanical equipment were heavily insulated with asbestos-containing products to prevent burns and contain heat.
Protective Gear and Emergency Equipment: Crew members’ protective clothing, including heat-resistant gloves and firefighting suits, incorporated asbestos fibers for thermal protection. Fire suppression equipment, fire blankets, and damage control materials also contained significant amounts of the mineral.
Piping and Ventilation Systems: The Perry’s interior contained miles of piping that were wrapped with asbestos insulation or sprayed with asbestos-containing coatings. Ventilation ducts, exhaust systems, and air handling equipment also utilized these materials extensively.
Structural Components: Various ship elements, including bulkhead panels, deck tiles, gaskets, seals, and electrical components, all incorporated asbestos for its strengthening properties and resistance to wear.
Who Faced Asbestos Exposure Risks on the USS Perry?
Every individual who stepped aboard the USS Perry during her 27 years of service potentially encountered asbestos, as the hazardous material contaminated virtually every area of the vessel, including areas where it had not originally been installed. The microscopic fibers could become airborne whenever asbestos-containing materials were disturbed. Routine maintenance, combat damage, or normal wear and tear all raised the possibility of asbestos becoming friable, and once that happened, the invisible particles could remain suspended in the air for hours, creating an inhalation hazard that extended well beyond the immediate work area.
The human body’s inability to effectively eliminate asbestos fibers makes any exposure potentially dangerous. When inhaled or ingested, these needle-like particles can penetrate deep into lung tissue and the protective membranes surrounding internal organs. Once lodged in the body, asbestos fibers can remain dormant for decades before triggering cellular changes that lead to scarring, inflammation, and potentially fatal diseases such as malignant mesothelioma.
While all personnel aboard Perry faced some level of risk, certain crew members encountered significantly higher exposure levels based on their duties and work locations. Those at greatest risk included:
- Engineering and Boiler Room Personnel: Sailors assigned to the ship’s machinery spaces worked in the most contaminated environments on the vessel. The equipment in these areas was heavily insulated, and when the insulation needed to be replaced or parts cleaned, the toxic material broke down. The cramped space and poor ventilation made the situation even more dangerous.
- Maintenance and Repair Crews: Personnel responsible for shipboard maintenance regularly disturbed asbestos materials during routine repairs, equipment upgrades, and system overhauls. The FRAM conversion process displaced a significant amount of contaminated equipment and ship components, exposing workers to massive amounts of asbestos.
- Damage Control Teams: Crew members trained in emergency response and firefighting regularly handled asbestos-containing equipment and worked in areas where damaged materials could release fibers into the air.
- Hull Technicians and Pipefitters: Those who maintained the ship’s piping systems, ventilation equipment, and structure frequently encountered asbestos insulation and related materials.
Compensation and Support Options for USS Perry Veterans
Veterans who served aboard the USS Perry or participated in her construction, maintenance, and overhaul operations face a significant likelihood of having been exposed to asbestos during their military service. Even if you haven’t experienced symptoms, you should inform your healthcare provider about your exposure, as asbestos-related diseases often remain dormant for 20 to 50 years after initial exposure. Their knowing about your exposure will lead to screening and monitoring that may lead to early detection and better treatment options.
Navy veterans who’ve received a diagnosis of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions may feel hopeless, but there are several resources available for both compensation and support. The Department of Veterans Affairs has officially recognized that USS Perry and all Gearing-class destroyers contained substantial amounts of asbestos materials, and there are several ways to file claims against the asbestos companies responsible for your exposure.
Veterans Administration Benefits: The VA classifies both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma as 100% disabling conditions, and claims from affected veterans typically result in immediate approval of disability. Approved VA claims can result in comprehensive healthcare coverage, monthly disability compensation, and access to specialized treatment at VA medical facilities nationwide. Additionally, family members may be eligible for survivor benefits and support services.
Litigation Leading to Compensation from Manufacturers: Veterans can file lawsuits seeking economic and punitive damages from the companies that manufactured and supplied asbestos-containing products to the military. These corporations often knew about asbestos’s health risks but failed to warn the military or individual service members. Decades of successful litigation have established a long record of corporate negligence, and when presented as evidence, this often results in substantial jury verdicts and settlements for victims.
Asbestos Trust Funds: Many companies responsible for asbestos exposure have established court-mandated trust funds to compensate victims. These funds, totaling billions of dollars, were created as part of bankruptcy proceedings and provide an additional source of compensation for eligible claimants.
The Benefits of Seeking Legal Help
Veterans pursuing compensation claims get significant value from working with experienced mesothelioma attorneyswho understand how to establish military service exposure and guide you through the complex process surrounding these cases. These lawyers can identify all the companies responsible for your exposure, gather all necessary documentation for both the VA claims process and the asbestos trust fund process, and protect your legal rights.
Time limits, known as statutes of limitations, restrict how long you have to file legal claims after receiving an asbestos-related diagnosis. The faster you consult with qualified legal counsel, the better your chances of preserving your rights and giving yourself time to explore all available compensation options. The combination of VA benefits and successful legal claims can provide substantial financial resources to help you and your family cope with the devastating impact of an asbestos-related disease.
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