The USS Lexington (CV-2) was an aircraft carrier, the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be named after the Revolutionary War battle at Lexington, Massachusetts. She was the lead ship of the Lexington-class aircraft carriers. She started out as a smaller battle cruiser built in the early 1900s by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts.
With a crew of more than 2,100 enlisted men and officers and carrying some 90 aircraft, the USS Lexington served admirably in World War II, receiving two battle stars for her service before being sunk by Japanese attacks at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942.
Asbestos in Navy Ships
Asbestos, a group of minerals long known to have excellent fire-resistance and friction-resistance properties, was very widely used in the construction and repair of Navy ships before the 1980s. The shipbuilders and crews of Navy ships were at great risk of being in contact with toxic levels of asbestos as part of their work.
Seagoing vessels have relatively cramped quarters for sleeping, eating and working. In addition, the quarters and workspaces such as engine rooms of older ships were often poorly ventilated. Some Navy vets and shipyard workers recall working in clouds of asbestos dust, or having asbestos debris fall on them as they slept.
Asbestos Diseases: Debilitating and Deadly
When loose, airborne asbestos fibers are inhaled (which can be done without knowingly doing so), the fibers can lodge themselves in the lungs and other internal organs, where they may start a disease process that culminates in lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma, cancer of the tissue lining the chest cavity mesothelioma. These diseases are debilitating and often incurable.
If you served aboard the USS Lexington (CV-2) or helped maintain or repair her, you may have been subjected to a dangerous level of asbestos — a carcinogen. Be aware that the symptoms of asbestos diseases may not become apparent until decades after the asbestos exposure.
Contact an Asbestos Attorney
If you’ve already been diagnosed with an asbestos-caused disease, contact us today to speak with an experienced asbestos attorney to learn about your legal rights and your eligibility for financial compensation.
