⚓ DD-793 — Fletcher DD-445
USS Cassin Young — Asbestos Exposure
USS Cassin Young (DD-793) is named for Captain Cassin Young, who won the Medal of Honor for his actions at Pearl Harbor. The destroyer was twice struck by kamikazes during WWII — the only surviving Fletcher-class destroyer to have been hit by multiple kamikazes. Today she is preserved by the National Park Service at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston — the very type of yard where she might have been built and overhauled.
Service History
Cassin Young commissioned December 31, 1943 and deployed to the Pacific. On July 12, 1945, she was struck by a kamikaze off Okinawa, killing 22 crew and wounding 45. After repair she rejoined the fleet for the final Pacific operations. Post-WWII she served through the Korean War era and in various Atlantic/Mediterranean deployments. Decommissioned in 1960, she was acquired by the National Park Service in 1978 and is now part of the Boston National Historical Park, moored at the Charlestown Navy Yard adjacent to USS Constitution.
Asbestos Exposure Aboard USS Cassin Young
Cassin Young was built at Bethlehem Steel's San Pedro (Terminal Island) yard. Her Fletcher-class engineering plant used asbestos pipe lagging, insulation, and gaskets throughout. The kamikaze damage she sustained in 1945 and subsequent repairs at naval shipyards disturbed asbestos insulation in affected spaces. She is now preserved at the Charlestown Navy Yard — the same type of facility where asbestos was applied to thousands of ships during the WWII era.
For a full list of asbestos locations and at-risk ratings for the Fletcher DD-445, see the Fletcher DD-445 class page.
VA Benefits & Legal Options
Veterans who served in engineering ratings aboard USS Cassin Young 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.
Full claim guidance for Destroyers › Free Legal Review ›
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
Is Cassin Young open to visitors?
Yes. USS Cassin Young is part of the Boston National Historical Park and is open to visitors seasonally. She is moored at the Charlestown Navy Yard, adjacent to USS Constitution ('Old Ironsides'). Tours of both ships are offered by the National Park Service.
Did You Serve Aboard USS Cassin Young?
If you or a family member served aboard USS Cassin Young, 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 ›