The USS Suwannee (CVE-27) was a Sangamon-class escort carrier laid down on June 3, 1938, and launched on March 4, the following year. It was commissioned on July 16, 1941, under Commander Joseph R. Lannom’s command and served in the US Navy for 6 years until it was struck from the Navy List on March 1, 1959. Later, it was reclassified as ACV-27 and CVHE-27. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 1080 people on board and had its main missions in Bermuda, Norfolk, San Pedro, San Diego, Espiritu Santo, New Caledonia, Roi, and Eniwetok.
Although the U.S. Navy stopped filling new ships with asbestos in the 1970s, its impact is still being seen today as illnesses associated with asbestos exposure - such as mesothelioma - often do not become evident for 10 to 40 years after exposure. If you are a Navy member retiree who has developed lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, you may have several options available to you: you may be entitled to disability benefits through the Veterans' Administration, or you may be able to seek compensation by filing asbestos-related claims against asbestos trusts.
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