⚓ DD-724 — Allen M. Sumner DD-692
USS Laffey — Asbestos Exposure
USS Laffey (DD-724) survived the most concentrated kamikaze and bomb attack ever endured by a U.S. warship. On April 16, 1945, off Okinawa, Laffey was attacked by 22 Japanese aircraft over a period of 80 minutes. She was hit by 6 kamikazes and 4 bombs, and survived — earning the nickname 'The Ship That Would Not Die.' She is preserved at Patriots Point in South Carolina.
Service History
Laffey commissioned February 8, 1944 and served in both the Atlantic and Pacific. During the Normandy invasion on D-Day, June 6, 1944, she provided shore bombardment support on Omaha Beach. Transferred to the Pacific, she was assigned radar picket duty off Okinawa — one of the most dangerous assignments in the campaign. On April 16, 1945, she was attacked by 22 Japanese aircraft. In 80 minutes she was hit by 6 kamikazes and 4 bombs, and strafed repeatedly — killing 32 crew and wounding 71. She remained afloat and was repaired. After WWII she remained in service through the Korean War era and was decommissioned in 1975. She opened as a museum at Patriots Point in 1981.
Asbestos Exposure Aboard USS Laffey
Laffey was built at Bath Iron Works in Maine — a destroyer and frigate builder with documented asbestos construction practices. Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers used asbestos pipe lagging, gaskets, and valve packing throughout their compact engineering plants. The battle damage Laffey sustained on April 16, 1945 — and the emergency repair work done in the Pacific and in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard — disturbed asbestos insulation in affected compartments, exposing damage control and repair crews.
For a full list of asbestos locations and at-risk ratings for the Allen M. Sumner DD-692, see the Allen M. Sumner DD-692 class page.
VA Benefits & Legal Options
Veterans who served in engineering ratings aboard USS Laffey and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques, or asbestos-related lung cancer may be eligible for:
- VA disability compensation — Monthly benefit. Requires a diagnosis, evidence of shipboard service, and a nexus between the two. No specific product identification required.
- Asbestos trust fund claims — Lump-sum payments from manufacturers' bankruptcy trusts. Requires identifying specific products used aboard. Multiple trusts may apply.
These two paths are not mutually exclusive. Many veterans pursue both.
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Asbestos.cam is an informational resource, not a law firm. The above is general information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for guidance on your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Laffey's battle damage and subsequent repairs increase asbestos exposure for her crew?
Yes. Emergency battle-damage repair work disturbed asbestos insulation in damaged compartments, creating acute asbestos exposure for damage control crews and shipyard repair workers. The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard repairs in 1945 involved civilian shipyard workers and sailors working in heavily damaged, asbestos-contaminated spaces.
Is USS Laffey near USS Yorktown at Patriots Point?
Yes — both USS Yorktown (CV-10) and USS Laffey (DD-724) are preserved at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, directly across the Cooper River from Charleston.
Did You Serve Aboard USS Laffey?
If you or a family member served aboard USS Laffey, you may have been exposed to asbestos. Sharing your service information is completely voluntary and may help build the historical record of shipboard exposure — information that can be valuable in VA disability and asbestos trust fund claims.
What we do with your information: Your submission goes into a private moderation queue. We will never publish your name, contact details, or diagnosis information publicly. The only information that may appear publicly is an anonymized count of verified veterans who have reported serving on this ship. We will not sell, rent, or share your information with third parties except as necessary to respond to your specific request. You may request deletion of your information at any time.
To request that your information be removed: Data Removal Request ›