The USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) was an Anchorage-class dock landing ship laid down in 1970, launched and commissioned in 1972. The vessel made her first overseas deployment as part of the Seventh Fleet, Amphibious Forces in 1974, the first of her ten deployments to the Western Pacific. She made three deployments to the Persian Gulf, as well. Between 1986 and 1987, the ship was refitted to operate the Navy's new Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC). After taking part in Operation Restore Hope to bring humanitarian aid to Somalia in 1994 and Operation United Shield, the withdrawal of troops and equipment in 1995, the ship went on her final deployment in 1997 to participate in joint exercises with Persian Gulf nations. The USS Fort Fisher was decommissioned in 1998 and struck from the Naval Vessel Registry in the same year. U.S. Navy personnel in service from the 1930s to mid-1970s have a heightened risk of developing health problems due to asbestos exposure. If you’re a Navy veteran who fulfilled duty onboard the USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40), you should immediately consult with your doctor. Navy veterans diagnosed with asbestos cancer are eligible for asbestos trust funds compensation in addition to their VA benefits.
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