USS Wood County
The American Ship Building Company buit the USS Wood County in 1957. In constructing the ship, they used asbestos as an insulator and in many parts and components of the ship.
USS Wood County (LST 1178) – Navy Tank Landing Ship
Classification: Tank Landing Ship
Status: Disposed of by Navy title transfer to the Maritime Administration
Fleet: 6th
Launch Date: 12/14/1957
Commission Date: 8/5/1959
Decommission Date: 5/1/1972
The USS Wood County first deployment was to the Mediterranean. She made other deployments there as well as to the Caribbean. She participated in the operation off the Cuban coast in 1962 until the Soviet Union removed the missiles from Cuba. For the rest of her career, she regularly conducted training exercises and spent time in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, only cruising to a different region when she was called upon for a mission.
A tank landing ship supports amphibious operations by carrying significant amounts of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore. These ships proved extremely useful during the war, however, the end of World War II left the Navy with a huge inventory of amphibious ships, specifically tank landing ships. These ships were scrapped or sunk, and a small amount were preserved for the future. Additionally, many of the tank landing ships were demilitarized and sold to the private sector or used as targets in aquatic nuclear testing after the war. World War II era tank landing ships have become somewhat ubiquitous, and have found a number of novel commercial uses, including operating as small freighters, ferries, and dredges. Crewmembers who sailed aboard tank landing ships brought essential equipment, cargo, goods, and troops to their destination on shore, all the while being exposed to Asbestos.
Anyone who served on a tank landing ship 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.