The USS Independence CVL-22, a light aircraft carrier, was built by the New York Shipbuilding Corp. and launched in 1942 at Camden, New Jersey. The lead ship of her class and the first of a new class of carriers that were converted from cruiser hulls, the Independence carried over 1,500 crew and officers.
World War II Service by the USS Independence
The USS Independence served very admirably in World War II, receiving eight battle stars for her contributions at places such as:
 The raid on Marcus Island
 The strike against Wake Island
 The Rabaul and Gilbert Islands
 Okinawa
Later Scuttled
At one point during the war, the USS Independence was refitted and used for night operations. She also participated in the Operation Magic Carpet fleet, taking troops back to the U.S. at the close of the war. She spent her last days as a target in the Bikini atomic bomb tests, and was later scuttled off the coast of San Francisco.
Asbestos Poisoning and the Independence
The asbestos components of the USS Independence may have been the source of toxic asbestos exposure for the men and women who built this aircraft carrier, maintained and repaired her, served aboard her, or simply got home to the U.S. aboard the Independence after the war.
Deteriorating or damaged asbestos — in whatever form — can be very dangerous, shedding millions of tiny fibers that hang in the air for hours. A shipyard worker or crewman aboard a ship may encounter airborne asbestos and inadvertently inhale the fibers, without even realizing it.
Asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lungs and other internal organs, initiating a process that culminates in a disease such as asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the tissue lining the chest cavity).
Help for Shipyard Workers and Veterans
If you or your family member spent any significant amount of time helping build or aboard the USS Independence, it’s a good idea to speak with an asbestos attorney about your legal rights and options. Contact us to schedule a private consultation today.
