USS Stephen Potter
Built by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation and launched in 1943, like other WWII Vessels the USS Stephen Potter was constructed using asbestos.
USS Stephen Potter (DD 538) – Fletcher Class Destroyer
Classification: Destroyer
Status: Disposed of by Navy Sale
Fleet: Pacific/Atlantic
Launch Date: 4/28/1943
Commission Date: 10/21/1943
Decommission Date: 4/28/1958
USS Stephen Potter screened and escorted aircraft carriers in the Pacific throughout 1944. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, she rescued seven downed pilots from the water. She received 12 battle stars for her World War II service. After the war, she was decommissioned and placed in “moth balls.” However in 1951 she was re-commissioned and the USS Stephen Potter joined the United Nations Fleet off the east coast of Korea and operated there until the cessation of hostilities.
Destroyers serve as quick and easily maneuvered warships which generally escort larger ships in the fleet. They also serve as protection for the larger ships from torpedo and submarine attacks. Destroyers were usually outfitted with anti-aircraft guns and anti-submarine weapons, however, despite being heavily armed and prepared for any emergency, destroyers were the most frequently sunk ship during World War II. The men on these ships faced a number on dangers on a day to day basis. A danger they faced, unknowingly, was Asbestos. Asbestos was found in a number of areas on these ships, in particular the insulation that lined piping.
Anyone who served on a destroyer should speak with their doctor regarding asbestos related diseases, such as Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer, and the treatment options available.
We Can Help
Asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma lawsuits involving active-duty or retired members of the U.S. military involve additional, complex legal issues and considerations.
At The Gori Law Firm, you’ll find lawyers with extensive experience in military asbestos and mesothelioma cases, and a staff that is highly qualified and specially trained to assist us in handling these difficult cases. We also work diligently to help people living with mesothelioma obtain a trial date within six to nine months from the time their lawsuit is filed.
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For a free case evaluation, please call our law offices directly or contact us online. An experienced attorney will be available to discuss your potential lawsuit, and to answer any questions you may have about the connection between asbestos exposure and deadly cancers such as mesothelioma, or your legal rights.