Asbestos Exposure on the USS Pyro
USS Pyro (AE-1) and USS Pyro (AE-24) served the Navy as ammunition ships from the early 1900s to the 1990s. The original USS Pyro survived the attack on Pearl Harbor and went on to serve valiantly during and after World War II. The second USS Pyro touted a cutting-edge design and set many records for performance among ammunition ships.
Veterans who served on USS Pyro (AE-1) and USS Pyro (AE-24) may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials in the ammunition ships’ engine rooms, boiler spaces, and other areas of the vessels. Exposure to the cancer-causing material occurred from pumps, valves, turbines, pipes, boilers, and other equipment. In addition, veterans who worked on maintenance, repairs, or upgrades to the ammunition ships may have been exposed. Asbestos has been shown to cause serious illnesses, and it is the only known cause of the devastating cancer mesothelioma.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos disease, you should talk to an experienced attorney about your options for pursuing compensation from the corporations that sold asbestos products to the U.S. Navy. At Belluck & Fox LLP, our nationally recognized mesothelioma attorneys have secured more than $800 million for victims of asbestos and their family members. Schedule a free consultation now, and learn how our team can help you and your family after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
History of USS Pyro
Named for the Greek word for fire, USS Pyro (AE-1) was the first ammunition ship of the U.S. fleet. Laid down in 1918 at the Navy Yard in Puget Sound, Washington, USS Pyro launched in 1919. Her original service was short-lived, though, and she was decommissioned after just a few years and tied up at Puget Sound. In 1939, Pyro (AE-1) was recommissioned and began running between the East and West coasts, with stops in Cuba and some trips to Honolulu.
On December 7, 1941, USS Pyro was moored in Pearl Harbor during the infamous attack. Pyro did not suffer major damage but did damage a Japanese plane, and afterward she began carrying out orders to run ammunition from the West Coast to Honolulu. Throughout the war, she served as the primary ammunition issue ship for the Third Fleet and as the ammunition ship for the Seventh Fleet, serving both American and Australian forces. Pyro earned one battle star for her service during World War II.
USS Pyro (AE-1) was decommissioned in 1946. In 1950, the ship was sold for scrapping.
The second USS Pyro (AE-24) was laid down in October 1957 and commissioned in July of that year at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia. At the time, Pyro was part of a new class of ammunition ships that were designed for transferring the newest munitions and guided missiles.
With multiple deployments to the Western Pacific region, USS Pyro (AE-24) focused on the primary mission of rearming aircraft carriers and surface combatant ships at sea. USS Pyro also conducted secondary missions of refueling at sea and using her booms to reposition ammunition and stores for other vessels at sea. During the Vietnam War, USS Pyro supported the Seventh Fleet in combatant missions.
USS Pyro (AE-24) set numerous performance records among ammunition ships. And in celebrating her 30th anniversary, USS Pyro entered a new era with the addition of female crew members.
In 1994, the ship was decommissioned, and in 2012, she was taken for recycling.
Legal Help for USS Pyro Shipmates Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
If you or a family member served on USS Pyro and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is important that you understand your legal rights. The highly respected asbestos attorneys at Belluck & Fox have more than 20 years of experience handling these complex claims. Our team has spent a significant amount of time researching and collecting detailed records on ammunition ships and the asbestos companies that supplied dangerous products to the U.S. Navy, putting countless servicemembers’ lives at risk.
Contact us today to schedule a free case review, and let our talented legal team help you demand the compensation you deserve.
Sources:
- History of the USS Pyro (AE-1)
http://www.usspyro.com/History/AE1_OfficialHistory_10OCT1945_byComdr%20Reiffel.pdf - History of USS Pyro (AE-24)
http://www.usspyro.com/History/History_AE24.htm - U.S. Naval Vessel Register
http://www.nvr.navy.mil/NVRSHIPS/HULL_SHIPS_BY_CATEGORY_AE_7.HTML
