The USS Intrepid CV-11, now a museum ship in New York City, was an Essex-class aircraft carrier that participated in many World War II battles. Built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, the Intrepid was launched in 1943 at Newport News, Virginia.
World War II, the Space Programs, the Vietnam War Her activities included:
the Battle of Leyte Gulf
recovering spacecraft of the Mercury and Gemini programs
the Vietnam War
Now a Popular Museum Ship
Because of the many times that the USS Intrepid had a prominent battle role, she was nicknamed “the Fighting 1.” Her 2,600-man crew served proudly over a long span of time — the Intrepid was overhauled in 1965 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and kept on until she was decommissioned for the last time in 1974. The original plan was to scrap the ship, but a campaign by Intrepid devotees led to her becoming the “Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum.”
The USS Intrepid and Asbestos
The Intrepid was built in the early 1940s, long before strict regulations were implemented regarding the use of asbestos on seagoing vessels and other structures. The men and women — both military and civilian personnel — who helped build, repair, maintain, overhaul, and crew the Intrepid may have had many opportunities to encounter toxic levels of asbestos, a carcinogenic material.
Asbestos Is a Carcinogen
Asbestos was widely used because of its friction resistance and fire resistance. Its applications number in the thousands. It is very versatile and durable, but when asbestos is manipulated or deteriorating, it can release millions of the tiny fibers of which it is composed. These fibers, when inhaled by humans, can be the start of:
asbestosis
lung cancer
mesothelioma
Asbestos-caused diseases often take years or decades to manifest themselves.
If You Served On or Worked On the USS Intrepid
If you served on or worked on the USS Intrepid (its construction, WWII or other combat, its overhauling, etc.), you should be aware that asbestos exposure may have harmed you. If so, you have a legal right to compensation for your illness and related losses.
