Asbestos Exposure on the USS Bryant

Hull Number: DD-665
Type: Destroyer
Class: Fletcher
Built: North Charleston, SC

This Fletcher-class Destroyer was constructed by the Charleston Navy Yard of North Charleston, SC in the midst of World War II. Measuring over 376 feet in length, the ship carried a complement of 329 officers and men.

Commissioned in December of 1943 by the U.S. Navy, the Bryant was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, and participated in a number of important operations toward the end of the war. It earned seven battle stars during the war, as well as a Navy Unit Commendation for extraordinary bravery against the enemy. The ship was decommissioned in January of 1947.

It is likely that many Navy veterans who served on the USS Bryant were exposed to asbestos during the course of their regular duty. Equipment such as boilers, pumps, valves, turbines, and electrical components were made with asbestos parts, and materials such as gaskets and packing were often made entirely from asbestos.

A high concentration of these components and materials could be found in the engine and boiler spaces, putting Machinist’s Mates, Boiler Tenders, Firemen, and others who worked in these areas at a heightened risk. The businesses that provided the Navy with these asbestos products often knew of the threat they posed, but did nothing to warn veterans of the USS Bryant or other ships from the era.

Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases have a right to seek compensation for their conditions. Settlements can help patients cover the high costs typically associated with battling these asbestos-caused conditions, and can often provide additional sums for the suffering of victims and their families.

The law limits the time in which a lawsuit can be filed however, so it is important to seek legal counsel soon after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis.