With Lieutenant Commander Elton Watters Grenfell in command, the USS Tunny (SS-282) completed 9 war patrols, having earned 2 Presidential Unit Citations for World War II service, as well as 5 battle stars during the Vietnam War. In 1969, the submarine was struck from the Naval Vessel Register and sunk as a target one year later. Since it was laid down during the heyday of asbestos use, the USS Tunny (SS-282) contained this toxic mineral in numerous places onboard, such as the wall insulation, the gaskets, the boilers, and the valves.
Exposure to asbestos fibers occurs when one breathes them in, which may lead to serious diseases such as mesothelioma within 20 to 50 years later. We strongly encourage all veterans who served on this submarine to prevent the development of such a disease by undergoing annual medical examinations consisting of chest X-rays and, possibly, CT scans. This way, they will rest assured their lungs have not been affected by asbestos exposure.
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