Asbestos on the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) is not normally what comes to mind when thinking of this U.S. Navy ship, but, sadly, it is a part of the ship’s story. For those who worked or served on the ship, learning more about asbestos exposure is imperative.
Asbestos on the USS Bon Homme Richard: Learn the History
Like many U.S. Navy ships, the USS Bon Homme Richard and her crew worked tirelessly around the world. Her proud history spans three conflicts around the globe. But those who served or worked on or around the ship may be carrying more than memories with them years later. For those exposed to asbestos on the USS Bon Homme Richard, mesothelioma may be the most lasting legacy.
The USS Bon Homme Richard Joins World War II
The USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), nicknamed “Bonnie Dick,” was ordered for the U.S. Navy on July 9, 1942. Her birthplace was Brooklyn Navy Yard, where her construction began on February 1, 1943. She was launched on April 29, 1994, and commissioned on November 26, 1944, commanded by Captain A.O. Rule, Jr.
The USS Bon Homme Richard joined the Navy’s Pacific Fleet toward the end of World War II. In June 1945, she joined the fast carriers to participate in the final raids on the Japanese home islands. She continued to operate off the coast of Japan until September. Under Operation Magic Carpet, she brought American military personnel back home from the war zone until 1946. She was decommissioned on January 9, 1947.
The USS Bon Homme Richard in the Korean War
When the Korean War broke out, the USS Bon Homme Richard was recommissioned as CV-31 on January 15, 1951, under the command of Captain Cecil B. Gill. She headed to Korea to launch air strikes against Korean targets in North Korea. After the second tour ended in December 1952, USS Bon Homme Richard was designated as CVA-31. She was again decommissioned from May 1953 until September 1955 to undergo a conversion to ready her to work with high-performance jets. After she was recommissioned, the USS Bon Homme Richard was deployed frequently with the Seventh Fleet. She took part in cruises to the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean from 1957 until 1964.
The USS Bon Homme Richard in the Vietnam War
When the Vietnam War began, the USS Bon Homme Richard took part in her third armed conflict. She was deployed on five combat tours in Southeast Asia from 1965 to 1970. Her planes fought with and downed North Vietnamese MiGs and struck infrastructure and transportation targets.
The USS Bon Homme Richard was decommissioned for the last time on July 7, 1971. She was struck from the U.S. Naval Vessel Register on September 20, 1989 and sold for scrap in March 1992. The aircraft carrier received a single battle star for her service in World War II and five battle stars for service during the Korean War.
Asbestos on the USS Bon Homme Richard: What You Need to Know
Like so many other ships built during the World War II Era, the USS Bon Homme Richard was built with many components and materials made from asbestos. Asbestos was often used as a cheap insulator that was also resistant to fire, heat, water, and corrosion. Because of this, it was used all over the ship, from the engine room to the deck. Asbestos was also used in the construction of the carrier-borne aircraft she carried.
Anyone who served or worked in some way on board the USS Bon Homme Richard without protective gear may have been exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos. Asbestos exposure puts those individuals—and their families—at risk of developing life-threatening asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, throat cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, or respiratory cancer.
The USS Bon Homme Richard and Asbestos Protections for You and Your Loved Ones
Asbestos-related illnesses can appear years after exposure. USS Bon Homme Richard workers and their families should monitor their health carefully and consult a doctor if they experience any symptoms associated with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses. Disease caused by asbestos exposure on the Bonn Homme Richard—or even secondhand exposure—requires swift treatment. If, after service on the USS Bon Homme Richard, mesothelioma is your diagnosis, you should also take immediate steps to secure your legal rights.
Anyone whose illness may be related to exposure to asbestos on the USS Bon Homme Richard should also consider contacting a lawyer to discuss his or her legal rights. The mesothelioma lawyers at Nemeroff Law Firm have helped protect the rights of victims of asbestos exposure nationwide. Contact us online today for a free case evaluation or call us at 866-342-1929.