USS Swasey
USS Swasey was a destroyer escort built by Brown Shipbuilding in 1943. Like other WWII ships, she was constructed using asbestos, the carcinogenic mineral fiber.
USS Swasey (DE 248) – Destroyer Escort
Classification: Destroyer Escort
Status: Disposed of by Navy Sale
Fleet: Pacific/Atlantic
Launch Date: 3/18/1943
Commission Date: 8/31/1943
Decommission Date: 3/15/1946
The USS Swasey sped to aid the USS Turner, which was on fire due to an explosion. She helped direct smaller boats around USS Turner and also used all her fire hoses to aid in extinguishing the flames. Unfortunately, USS Swasey’s hoses could not keep up, and the USS Turner capsized and sank in New York Harbor. As part of a “hunter-killer” group in the Atlantic, she rescued two sailors from the water after the USS Warrington was sunk by a hurricane off the coast of Bermuda. The USS Swasey received one battle star for her service during World War II.
Destroyer Escorts operated as a guide or companion ship for convoys of U.S. Naval ships. They were outfitted with technology that allowed them to spot other ships, aircraft, and submarines. These vessels also helped protect amphibious forces as they were landing on hostile beaches. Some even joined “hunter killer” forces in which the searched for and attacked enemy submarines. During World War II alone, escorts were credited with sinking 118 total enemy submarines. 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 escort should speak with their doctor regarding asbestos related diseases, such as Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer, and the treatment options available.
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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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