Asbestos Exposure on Ships:

USS AARON WARD DM 34 DESTROYER

This Robert H. Smith-class destroyer was also named in honor of Rear Admiral Aaron Ward, like the other two destroyers before it. The ship was launched on 5th May 1944 and commissioned in 28th October 1944, with Commander William H. Sanders, Jr. in command. USS Aaron Ward (DM-34) was redesigned as a destroyer minelayer (DiM-34) on 19th July 1944. The destroyer was a unit of the Mine Flotilla and arrived off Okinawa late on 22nd March 1945. There, the destroyer minelayer got her first glimpse of the enemy when some of his planes approached the sweep group but did not attack. More came in later, but the combined gunfire of the group dissuaded them from approaching close enough to harm the American ships. Aaron Ward supported minesweeping operations around Kerama Retto and Okinawa until the time of the first landings. During that period, she accounted for three enemy aircraft. The destroyer was heavily damaged during battles from enemy airplanes, and the warship went dead in the water. The crew managed to save the ship and temporarily repair it, but because her damage was so severe and the Navy had a surplus of destroyers at the time, she was decommissioned on 28th September 1945. Her anchor was put up for display in Illinois. Aaron Ward earned one battle star and the Presidential Unit Citation for her World War II service. The destroyer’s main technical details were:

  • Weight 2200 tons
  • Length 376 feet
  • Speed 34 knots
  • 363 officers and enlisted served on board

Asbestos on the USS Aaron Ward Caused Diseases

The ships that were made during that period contained large amounts of asbestos materials. On these “asbestos destroyers”, asbestos materials were used for fireproofing and insulating purposes. This asbestos material was easily damageable, and small fibers or particles were released into the air being swallowed or inhaled by anyone on board. This could result in serious health problems and asbestos related diseases.

Have you been exposed to asbestos on the USS Aaron Ward? Contact an attorney!

If you think you, or someone you know, might have been exposed to asbestos on the USS Aaron Ward don’t hesitate to contact a specialized attorney, because you could be entitled to some form of compensation. The lawyer will look at your case and then file a claim in your name and advice you how to proceed further to obtain that compensation. If so, it will allow you to pay for medical bills and receive the best treatment available.

Please feel free to contact an asbestos expert at any time for valuable legal information. This service is completely free.