Navy Armed Guards and Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos's remarkable strength and fire-resistant abilities made the mineral an optimal choice for insulating Navy ships built for WWII. Asbestos-containing products became essential in shipbuilding, as heat-producing equipment was abundant aboard. Moreover, asbestos was also an optimal solution in military installations on land to prevent potential fires.

This practice made asbestos exposure part of the everyday service life of many U.S. military members, particularly the Navy. Naval personnel, including members of the Armed Guard, were among those most affected by the consequences of inhaling or ingesting asbestos particles and risked developing life-altering diseases stemming from it, even decades later.

Upon entering the body, asbestos threads affect the lungs first, but they can reach other major organs by traveling with the blood. This is why veterans who might have these fibers in their lungs are still at risk of developing severe asbestos-related diseases. These fibers have sharp ends that tear at the lining of organs after they get caught in it and continuously irritate the tissue, causing chronic inflammation and permanent scarring. Over time, the process leads to cell mutation and tumors that may turn into asbestos cancer:

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

Former Navy personnel diagnosed with these cancers immediately qualify for compensation and expedited claims if they have proof of asbestos exposure and medical papers about one of the malignancies mentioned above.

Merchant Marine Vessels Contaminated With Asbestos

Between the 1930s and early 1980s, almost all U.S. merchant marine ships had asbestos to keep them insulated and fireproof. These ships were part of the Navy's auxiliary fleet in World War II and carried cargo to and from ports. Like all vessels, these ships also had tight spaces with poor ventilation, and when routine maintenance generated asbestos dust, everyone aboard risked exposure to the hazardous material.

When the U.S. entered the Second World War, it also entered a battle of logistics. Like in every other war, getting there first with the most men and material usually wins the battle. Merchant marine ships were traveling across submarine-infested waters and against land-based aircraft, so training men to defend them became a priority. The Armed Guard of WWII was established to operate the deck guns of merchant ships and provide defense against attacks threatening the delivery of:

• weaponry
• troops
• food and water

Merchant shipping was the only way to move vast numbers of men and supplies. This fact underscores the supreme importance of the Armed Guard's service in defending merchant ships against submarines and planes. WWII's Armed Guard members converted their duty from one of the most hazardous afloat to one of the best in the Navy by excelling at anti-aircraft gunnery firing. The U.S. supplied Navy personnel to all key positions with assistance from the merchant crew in:

• handling other less important stations
• passing ammunition
• loading supplies

From the outbreak of WWII, over 7 million Army personnel and more than 141,000 civilians were transported overseas. Many were carried in merchant ships and Army and Navy transports. The Armed Guard defended the merchant ships, and the Army transports.

Routine Asbestos Exposure Behind Veterans' Declining Health

Additionally to the risks of service in the Navy, on the ships built before the 1980s, veterans also faced inhaling dangerous levels of asbestos fibers. Regular maintenance, repair, or removal work was usually done without proper protective gear, increasing the chances of inhaling toxic asbestos fibers. Therefore, former service members should seek professional help as soon as possible and inform the doctor about their military service when experiencing:

• shortness of breath
• pain in the chest or shoulder
• persistent dry cough
• general weakness
• night sweats
• fatigue
• unintentional weight loss
• respiratory system complications

The complexity of asbestos-related diseases often leads medical practitioners to misinterpret the symptoms and misdiagnose regular, less dangerous respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD or asthma. It's a time-wasting error that can be prevented by speaking with your doctor about the possibility of asbestos exposure while serving - a piece of essential information needed for an exact diagnosis of your condition and in receiving timely treatment for asbestos-related diseases, among them non-cancerous illnesses, such as:

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

Because asbestos-related conditions manifest symptoms only after decades, it is best to schedule regular checkups and see a pulmonologist experienced in lung diseases caused by asbestos exposure. Furthermore, requesting a second doctor's opinion outside the VA can ensure you were thoroughly assessed and correctly diagnosed.

Even if benign asbestos diseases don't qualify veterans to receive compensation, they should be regularly investigated, as they tend to turn into cancer. They can be efficiently monitored through chest X-rays and pulmonary function tests. If they become malignant and veterans are diagnosed with cancer, they may become eligible for asbestos claims.

Assisting Veterans in Receiving Their Rightful Compensation

With asbestos contamination of ships built before the 1980s, many Navy veterans have to fight for their health now and face asbestos diseases that can significantly impact their health and finances. Filing compensation claims with the asbestos trust funds and the VA can be daunting, especially when veterans deal with health issues that consume most of their time and energy.

Many vets never apply, even if the monetary reward is consistent and could improve their financial situation. With the help of an attorney experienced in asbestos claims, you can spare yourself the stress of paperwork, including collecting required service-related documents and providing proof of the connection between military service and asbestos exposure. We can assist you by connecting you with expert lawyers ready to help with your case.