The USS Spruance (DD-963) served as the lead ship of a brand new class of warship, with all the destroyers that came after her using the same design referred to as a Spruance-class destroyer. During her thirty-year career from 1975 to 2005, the state-of-the-art vessel participated in Cold War operations, the Persian Gulf conflicts, counter-narcotics missions, and post-9/11 operations.[1] While she represented a new generation of ships, her construction continued the Navy’s use of asbestos-containing materials, putting every crew member who served on her and every shipyard worker involved in building, maintaining, or updating her at risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
About the USS Spruance
The Ship’s Namesake
The USS Spruance (DD-963) was named for Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance. A graduate of the US Naval Academy, Spruance served in both World Wars. During World War I, he was named Assistant Engineer Officer of the New York Navy Yard, and after the war, he was active in returning American troops home. He then moved through several engineering postings and destroyer commands, eventually attaining the rank of commander and attending the Senior Course at the Naval War College in July 1926 before being posted to USS Mississippi (BB-41) in October 1929 as executive officer.[2]
Spruance was the commander of the USS Mississippi when Europe entered World War II. He was placed in increasing positions of responsibility until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States entered the war. He led American forces to victory at the Battle of Midway in June 1942, and as the war progressed, he became one of two primary fleet commanders. He is credited with the victory at the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944 as part of the Allied “island-hopping” campaign across the Pacific, and participated in the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
After the war ended, Admiral Spruance was awarded the Navy Cross. He briefly relieved Admiral Nimitz as Commander, US Pacific Fleet before accepting a posting as President of the Naval War College. After he retired from the Navy, he served as U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines.
Construction and Early Service
Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the Spruance was laid down in November 1972 and launched in November 1973. She was sponsored by Mrs. Margaret V. Spruance, the admiral’s daughter-in-law, and commissioned in September 1975 under Commander Raymond J. Harbrecht.[1]
The Spruance measured 563 feet 4 inches in length, displaced 7,800 tons, and carried a complement of 250 officers and enlisted personnel. She was designed as a “quiet ship.” Her advanced underwater detection systems and sound-dampening features earned her the nickname “The Quiet Warrior” from her crew. The destroyer was powered by four General Electric LM2500 marine gas turbines for main propulsion and three additional gas turbines for electrical power. This marked the first use of all-gas turbine propulsion in a U.S. Navy destroyer. Her armament included two 5-inch guns, RUR-5 ASROC, NATO Sea Sparrow missiles, torpedo tubes, and she was later equipped with the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System for Tomahawk cruise missiles.[1]
Operational and Deployment History
Following extensive trials and shakedown operations and weathering significant hurricanes, the Spruance’s initial focus was on testing and evaluation as the lead ship of her class. Her early years involved determining optimal manning levels and validating design concepts through rigorous sea trials.
Cold War Operations
Spruance’s first major deployment came in 1978-1980 with the Saratoga Battle Group to the Mediterranean. During this deployment, she shadowed Soviet aircraft carriers Kiev and Minsk, gathering intelligence on Soviet naval capabilities. The destroyer conducted surveillance operations, participated in NATO exercises, and made numerous diplomatic port visits throughout the Mediterranean.
Throughout the 1980s, the Spruance participated in major NATO exercises, including Ocean Safari 77, United Effort/Teamwork 84, and Arctic operations above the Arctic Circle. She regularly deployed to the Mediterranean and participated in Freedom of Navigation operations during heightened Cold War tensions.
Persian Gulf and Middle East Operations
During the Iran-Iraq War’s “Tanker War” phase (1988), Spruance deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of operations to protect Kuwaiti tankers. Operating in the dangerous Strait of Hormuz, she served as an intelligence gathering platform while facing threats from Iranian aircraft, small boats, and mines. Her crew conducted a dramatic medical evacuation of a Polish sailor from a Greek fishing vessel, demonstrating the humanitarian aspects of naval operations.
Spruance played a significant role in Operation Desert Storm (1991), launching Tomahawk cruise missiles against targets in northern Iraq and participating in the Maritime Interception Force that enforced the economic embargo against Iraq. Her missiles struck their targets successfully, contributing to the coalition’s victory.
Post-Cold War Service
Following the Gulf War, Spruance transitioned to new missions, including extensive counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean. She intercepted hundreds of vessels and contributed to the confiscation of over $2 billion worth of contraband during multiple deployments in the 1990s.
The destroyer continued Mediterranean deployments throughout the 1990s, participating in NATO operations, Partnership for Peace exercises with former Soviet bloc countries, and multinational training exercises. She served with the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean and conducted numerous diplomatic missions.
Global War on Terrorism
Following the September 11, 2001, attacks, Spruance participated in Operation Noble Eagle, conducting anti-submarine patrols to defend the homeland. She deployed in 2002 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, conducting maritime interdiction operations and counter-terrorism patrols in the Mediterranean.
Her final major deployment came in 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where she conducted operations in the Arabian Gulf as part of Operation Sea Dragon II, helping to secure Iraqi territorial waters and enforce maritime security.
Modernization and Upgrades
Spruance underwent a major modernization overhaul from 1986-1987 that included installation of the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System for Tomahawk cruise missiles, upgraded sonar systems, modifications for the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, and improved electronic warfare capabilities. Additional upgrades throughout her career included the Phalanx Close-In Weapons System and various electronic and weapons improvements. While each of these projects enhanced the vessel’s capabilities, they also exposed those removing old equipment and installing new to asbestos fibers.
Final Years and Decommissioning
Spruance’s final years included continued operations from her homeport of Mayport, Florida, participation in international exercises, and training missions. She served as a test platform for new weapons systems and trained midshipmen throughout her career. The ship was decommissioned in March 2005 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyardand stricken from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. She was sunk as a target during a live-fire exercise in December 2006, approximately 300 miles off the Virginia coast.
Asbestos Exposure on the USS Spruance
From the 1930s through the 1970s, naval vessels were constructed and equipped with asbestos-containing materials. The substance had a well-earned reputation for being resistant to heat and flame, durable, and inexpensive. It was also resistant to harsh maritime environments, so the Navy used it extensively in various shipboard components and systems. For decades, the military mandated the use of the mineral, and it was specified for inclusion in the USS Spruance just as it had been for hundreds of destroyers that came before her. The material was not only used when the vessel was first constructed, but it was present in each improvement and update that the ship went through over her useful life.
When construction, repair, or renovation activities took place, asbestos-containing materials would end up being removed, replaced, cleaned, or in some other way manipulated, releasing microscopic fibers that became airborne. As they floated in the air, the shipyard workers assigned to improve the ship would inhale them, or unknowingly carry them on their hair, skin, or clothing into their homes, resulting in secondary asbestos exposure of their family members.
Though the Navy was unaware of the significant health threats posed by these materials, the same cannot be true of the companies that manufactured and supplied asbestos-containing products to the shipyards for installation. Many of them received early notification of asbestos’s dangers and deliberately concealed the health risks so they could continue earning big profits by selling it.
The areas where asbestos-containing materials were found included:
Machinery spaces: These compartments contained boilers, steam turbines, pumps, and valve assemblies that were insulated with asbestos. Thermal blankets, gaskets, and packing compounds installed and used in these areas were also made with substantial quantities of asbestos.
Propulsion systems: The Spruance’s extensive network of steam piping, ventilation ducts, and condenser units was coated with flame-retardant asbestos spray designed to protect crew members from heat and retain thermal integrity.
Electronic systems: Cables, distribution panels, circuit breakers, and other electrical components were protected with asbestos because of its excellent fire-prevention and electrical insulating properties.
Living areas and common spaces: Berthing compartments, bunks, and dining areas were built using floor coverings, overhead materials, bulkhead insulation, and fire-rated access doors that all contained asbestos.
Firefighting equipment: Safety gear utilized by emergency response and fire suppression teams regularly included asbestos fibers for their thermal and flame resistance.
Who Faced the Greatest Risk of Asbestos Exposure on the USS Spruance?
Although all personnel aboard the USS Spruance potentially encountered asbestos exposure, specific assignments and responsibilities placed service members in areas with significantly higher concentrations of the material and elevated risk levels.
The crew members facing the highest asbestos exposure risk included:
- Machinist’s Mates
- Boiler Technicians
- Hull Maintenance Technicians
- Damage Control Personnel
- Pipefitters
- Electricians
- Shipyard Workers
The shipboard environment was largely made up of confined spaces with inadequate ventilation, and this intensified the concentration of asbestos fibers that crew members were exposed to. Because asbestos fibers are so lightweight, they can remain airborne for hours, easily inhaled by people in the area where they were released and carried on their hair, skin, or clothing throughout the ship. As a result, even personnel who didn’t directly handle hazardous materials faced exposure.
Health Consequences for USS Spruance Veterans
Asbestos has been directly linked to severe and frequently fatal medical conditions, many of which don’t appear until two to five decades after exposure. Because of this extended delay—referred to as a latency period—many of those who served on the USS Spruance in her early years are only now beginning to experience symptoms, while those who served in her last years may not see symptoms for another thirty years.
Some of the most frequently seen asbestos-associated conditions impacting naval veterans include:
- Pleural and Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Asbestosis
- Lung Cancer
- Pleural Plaques and Thickening
- Other Cancers
The onset of these illnesses can prove catastrophic for veterans and their loved ones, resulting in substantial emotional distress, diminished quality of life, exorbitant medical expenses, and a significantly reduced life expectancy.
Relief and Support for USS Spruance Veterans With Mesothelioma
Veterans who served aboard the USS Spruance and who’ve developed asbestos-related conditions are not without options: There are multiple resources for financial compensation and medical support.
The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes that military duty onboard Navy vessels put sailors at risk of contact with asbestos, and the health hazards associated with that contact qualifying veterans who become ill with disability compensation; specialized medical treatment at VA hospitals or dedicated oncology centers nationwide; and supplementary support programs including in-home care, assistive devices, and caregiver assistance. Mesothelioma typically receives a 100% disability classification, ensuring maximum benefit payments to veterans and their families.
To establish eligibility for these benefits, veterans must demonstrate that their medical condition results from asbestos exposure during military duty. This verification process can prove challenging, frequently necessitating comprehensive documentation of service records, occupational responsibilities, and medical evidence establishing the connection between the illness and asbestos contact.
Asbestos trust funds are an additional source of compensation for military veterans. These funds were established by corporations whose role in manufacturing or distributing asbestos products led to such significant liabilities and jury verdicts that they were driven to bankruptcy. Establishing asbestos trust funds for those who would be diagnosed in the future.was a requirement of each of these companies’ bankruptcy agreements. Collectively, these funds contain an estimated $30 billion. Though the application process for getting funds from these trusts is relatively stress-free, they still require a significant amount of documentation as part of their verification process, including information on dates and circumstances of asbestos exposure to their products and medical documentation of an asbestos-related condition.
Personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits are another option for veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma. Taking legal action against the companies that manufactured, distributed, or installed the asbestos-containing materials for the naval vessels you served on can result in substantial jury verdicts or out-of-court settlements. Though civil litigation can be time-consuming and stressful, when it’s successful it can provide compensation for medical expenses, income loss, physical and emotional suffering, and additional damages. Likewise, family members can file wrongful death actions for loss of companionship, burial expenses, and other losses when loved ones have died from asbestos-related diseases.
How An Asbestos Attorney Can Help
Each of these options can provide invaluable support and financial assistance, but the process can be complex. Veterans and their families who are already facing the challenges of a mesothelioma diagnosis will get tremendous benefit tremendously from collaborating with specialized asbestos attorneys whose sole focus is on assisting mesothelioma victims with legal claims, trust fund applications, and VA benefit requests.
Mesothelioma attorneys have access to extensive resources to help identify all potentially liable asbestos manufacturers and experts who can testify on your behalf. A lawyer can assess your eligibility for each compensation option, collect information to establish the link between your naval service and asbestos exposure, and compile crucial medical documentation supporting your claim. They can also assist you in understanding complex application processes and time limits while advocating for your interests during settlement discussions and legal proceedings.
By partnering with experienced legal professionals, USS Spruance veterans can optimize their opportunities for getting the compensation they deserve while minimizing worry and stress.
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