Landing Craft Personnel and Asbestos Exposure

Landing crafts played a crucial role during World War II in the numerous successful landings, including the legendary D-Day invasion in Normandy and the Pacific island-hopping campaign. Furthermore, the surprise operation at Inchon, South Korea, relied heavily on landing crafts, showcasing their importance in pushing inland rapidly and securing strategic objectives. In the Vietnam War, these seagoing watercraft were again in focus, playing a vital role in transporting troops and supplies along the Mekong Delta and other river systems.

Landing craft production peaked during World War II when many designs were produced in large quantities. As all Navy ships built until the 1980s, these specialized boats also contained asbestos materials, a mandatory norm in constructing vessels for the war. Given that landing crafts have transported troops, equipment, and vehicles from sea to shore from World War II to present-day conflicts, a considerable number of veterans may have been at risk of inhaling or ingesting asbestos dust.

Asbestos fibers are nearly indestructible and remain in the body, continuously causing long-term damage after inhalation. It only makes things worse that no known procedure can help the body expel these microfibers. The toxic asbestos particles gradually cause inflammation over time and develop into malignant asbestos diseases decades later, such as:

• pharyngeal cancer
• colorectal cancer
• mesothelioma
• laryngeal cancer
• esophageal cancer
• urogenital cancer
• bronchial cancer
• lung cancer
• gastrointestinal cancer

Navy veterans diagnosed with the cancers listed above may qualify to file claims and receive payment if their medical files confirm the malignant diagnosis and they have proof of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Exposure, an Added Risk to the Dangers of the Job

Asbestos was often used as a key material in naval shipbuilding, including landing craft. It was present in various components, from insulation to parts like valve packing materials. Service onboard these small and medium boats and barges posed the risk of asbestos exposure for the crew of Navy and Coast Guard members.

The captain of the landing craft had overall charge, and coordinating the crew was usually in the hands of a coxswain. Landing craft crews had an engineer/stoker in charge of the engine, and seamen were in charge of the guns, the ramps, and other equipment. Landing craft drivers were responsible for maneuvering the vessel to the shore and back to the ships as many times as needed to complete the transport of troops and goods.

Sometimes, these boats also evacuated casualties from the landing spots and brought them back to the ship. It was also common to form search parties from landing craft crews and set out to locate and support troops that had been ambushed. Commando operations required participants' flexibility, which often included landing craft crews. One of the most critical roles of the landing crafts was to land various teams, such as:

• demolition/clearance team
• artillery Forward Observation Officers (FOOs)
• air observers

Permanent Health Damages After Military Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos ensured the fireproofing of naval ships and was the "miracle material" mandated by the Navy. While the armed forces concentrated on building the vessels for WW2, manufacturers hid the mineral's devastating impact on human health. Consequently, many veterans today are suffering from the consequences of routine asbestos exposure during their service and non-cancerous diseases arising from it:

• pulmonary fibrosis
• asbestosis
• recurrent pneumonia
• emphysema
• rounded atelectasis
• chronic bronchitis
• pleural effusion
• pleural plaques
• pleural thickening
• COPD
• lung nodules and spots
• asthma

Even if these conditions don't qualify veterans to receive payment, they should be checked periodically, as they may turn into cancer. Periodic chest X-rays or CT scans and pulmonary function tests are helpful tools to monitor them. If non-cancerous illnesses evolve into cancer, veterans will become eligible for claims.

Asbestos-related diseases involve complex biological processes that can be misleading and often result in misdiagnosis. Moreover, their symptoms point to other common respiratory diseases, making it more difficult to recognize them for an asbestos condition. Doctors frequently misinterpret the signs and mistreat these illnesses, consuming precious time when a proper treatment applied as soon as possible is crucial. To avoid wasting time when it is of the essence, former naval personnel should seek medical attention immediately and schedule a screening when the following symptoms occur:

• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• chest tightness
• wheezing
• dizziness
• fatigue
• unintentional weight loss
• persistent dry cough
• pain with inspiration

It's crucial to go to the doctor right after the first signs appear and to solicit a second or even a third doctor's opinion outside the VA. By consulting with a pulmonary specialist experienced in treating asbestos diseases, you'll ensure receiving an exact diagnosis and access to the best suitable treatment. You can further help the diagnostic process by being open about the military service and the possibility of asbestos exposure on the ships.

An Asbestos Cancer Diagnosis Qualifies Veterans to File Claims

Due to using asbestos excessively on Navy ships built until the 1980s, the number of cancerous and benign diseases from inhaling or ingesting the toxic fibers rose among veterans who served on contaminated vessels. Those diagnosed with cancer stemming from service-related asbestos exposure may access VA benefits and be compensated by the asbestos trust funds. However, applicants must abide by a statute of limitations of up to five years from the date of diagnosis.

If you decide to take legal action, we can help you contact the best lawyer for your case, who will assist you in the claims process to receive the deserved compensation.