The USS Pyro (AE-1) was an ammunition ship laid down on August 9, 1918, and launched on December 16, 1919. It was commissioned on August 10, 1920, under Comdr. John Sisson Graham's command and served in the US Navy for 4 years until it was decommissioned on September 10, 1924. Some of the ports where the ship operated were Mare Island, San Francisco, San Pedro, San Diego, Balboa, Guantanamo Bay, Norfolk, Philadelphia, and New York. On July 1, 1939, the ship was commissioned again, this time under Comdr. Robert Stevenson Haggart's command. Asbestos is a mineral that has been mined and used extensively in nearly all components of Navy ships. It is unique as a material in that it resists corrosion, chemicals, and high temperatures, and is lightweight and flexible. Because of these properties, it has been used to insulate boilers, steam pipes, hot water pipes, and nuclear reactors in ships built before the mid-1970s. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving in the US Navy and developed a condition based upon that exposure you may be eligible for VA benefits. Navy veterans can also consider filing a lawsuit or filing a claim with an asbestos trust.
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