⚓ DD-951 — Forrest Sherman DD-931
USS Turner Joy — Asbestos Exposure
USS Turner Joy (DD-951) is historically significant as one of two U.S. destroyers involved in the Gulf of Tonkin incident of August 1964 — the event that provided the pretext for direct U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. Together with USS Maddox (DD-731), Turner Joy was reportedly attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats on August 4, 1964, leading Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. She is preserved in Bremerton, Washington.
Service History
Turner Joy commissioned August 3, 1959 and served as a Cold War destroyer through the 1960s and 1970s. During the Gulf of Tonkin incident on August 4, 1964, Turner Joy and USS Maddox reported being attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. The subsequent Gulf of Tonkin Resolution authorized the President to use military force in Southeast Asia — escalating U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The August 4 incident has since been disputed by historians and participants; some evidence suggests no attack actually occurred. Turner Joy continued serving through the Vietnam War and Cold War. Decommissioned in 1982, she became a museum ship in Bremerton in 1990.
Asbestos Exposure Aboard USS Turner Joy
Turner Joy was built at a commercial Seattle shipyard and is a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer — a post-WWII design still built with asbestos insulation as standard. Her steam turbine propulsion plant used asbestos pipe lagging, gaskets, and valve packing throughout her engineering spaces. Veterans who served as engineering ratings aboard Turner Joy during her Cold War service are eligible for VA disability claims.
For a full list of asbestos locations and at-risk ratings for the Forrest Sherman DD-931, see the Forrest Sherman DD-931 class page.
VA Benefits & Legal Options
Veterans who served in engineering ratings aboard USS Turner Joy 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 Turner Joy actually attacked on August 4, 1964?
This is a historical question, not an asbestos exposure question. For VA disability and trust fund claim purposes, what matters is that Turner Joy was an active U.S. Navy destroyer with asbestos-era engineering spaces during the 1959–1982 service period. The factual circumstances of the Gulf of Tonkin incident are disputed historically but do not affect the asbestos exposure history of veterans who served aboard her.
Can Vietnam-era veterans who served on Turner Joy file VA asbestos claims?
Yes. Veterans who served in engineering ratings aboard Turner Joy during her Cold War/Vietnam-era service are eligible for VA disability compensation for asbestos-related disease. The Forrest Sherman-class's documented asbestos construction supports an exposure finding.
Did You Serve Aboard USS Turner Joy?
If you or a family member served aboard USS Turner Joy, 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 ›