⚓ DD-537 — Fletcher DD-445
USS The Sullivans — Asbestos Exposure
USS The Sullivans (DD-537) was named for the five Sullivan brothers — George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert — who were all killed when USS Juneau (CL-52) was sunk on November 13, 1942. It was the greatest single-family loss in U.S. Naval history. The ship is preserved at the Buffalo Naval & Military Park.
Service History
The Sullivans was commissioned September 30, 1943. She served in the Pacific, participating in the liberation of the Philippines and operations in the Pacific through the end of WWII. Post-war she participated in naval exercises and NATO operations. She was decommissioned in 1965 and later transferred to Buffalo, where she joined USS Little Rock (CLG-4) and USS Croaker (SS-246) at the Buffalo Naval & Military Park. The ship's name honors the Navy's policy — implemented after the five Sullivan brothers were lost together — of not assigning close family members to the same vessel in combat.
Asbestos Exposure Aboard USS The Sullivans
The Sullivans was built at Bethlehem Steel's San Francisco yard during the height of WWII production. Fletcher-class destroyers were heavily insulated with asbestos pipe lagging in the boiler rooms and engine rooms that powered their high-speed steam propulsion. The engineering spaces were compact — a destroyer's boiler room and engine room are in close proximity — concentrating asbestos fiber exposure for Machinist's Mates and Boiler Technicians on watch.
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 The Sullivans 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
Was the 'no brother policy' enacted because of the Sullivan brothers?
Yes. Following the death of all five Sullivan brothers, the U.S. military enacted what became known as the 'Sole Survivor Policy' — protecting family members from serving in situations where all members of a family could be killed together. The policy allows family members who have lost siblings in combat to request exemption from combat duty.
Can veterans who served on The Sullivans (DD-537) file asbestos claims?
Yes. Veterans who served in engineering ratings aboard The Sullivans during her active service (1943–1965) are eligible for VA disability compensation for asbestos-related disease. The Fletcher-class's documented asbestos insulation specifications support an exposure finding.
Did You Serve Aboard USS The Sullivans?
If you or a family member served aboard USS The Sullivans, 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 ›