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Did you serve aboard the USS America? This aircraft carrier carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS America, hull number CVA-66, was an aircraft carrier, built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Corp. and commissioned in 1965. She served through Cold War Mediterranean deployments, Vietnam War Pacific deployments, and Persian Gulf War. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS America, CVA-66 — insulated and sealed with asbestos. Each shipyard overhaul and major repair meant asbestos insulation was torn out and replaced — peak-exposure work for the yard workers and the crew aboard. Exposure was worst in the engineering spaces, where the snipes worked — but asbestos lined the whole ship, so all hands were exposed. The companies that made the asbestos equipment aboard — not the Navy — are who asbestos claims are brought against. According to asbestos litigation records, the equipment aboard the USS America from makers such as Warren Pumps, Inc., Warren Pumps, Elliott Company, and William Powell allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS America and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, you may have a legal claim against the companies that made the asbestos products used aboard your ship. This is educational information from an independent publisher — not a law firm — and is not legal advice.
USS America (CVA-66) was a Kitty Hawk–class aircraft carrier commissioned 23 January 1965 and decommissioned 9 August 1996, serving 31 years across the Cold War, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. Built at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, she was the last U.S. aircraft carrier constructed before the nuclear-powered USS Nimitz. The equipment manifest below was assembled from depositions, expert reports, and manufacturer interrogatory responses filed in U.S. asbestos litigation referencing equipment installed aboard this vessel.
Equipment Manifest
| Equipment | Manufacturer | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valve | William Powell | Drawing shows William Powell valve with asbestos gasket installed aboard USS America (CV-66) | |
| Steam-driven pump | Elliott Company | Asbestos-containing components aboard USS America | |
| Single Piston Bilge and Fuel Oil Stripping Pump (steam reciprocating pump) | Warren Pumps | 1 | CVA-66 USS America, 1961-07-28 |
| Main Condenser Circulating Pump | Warren Pumps | 4 | CVA-66 USS America, 1962-02-02 |
| Reciprocating Steam Driven Bilge and Fuel Oil Stripping Pump | Warren Pumps, Inc. | Technical Manual Book No. 521, NAVSHIPS 347-3912. Documented for USS America (CVS-66) | |
| Turbine Driven Main Condenser Circulating Pump | Warren Pumps, Inc. | Technical Manual Book No. 523, NAVSHIPS 347-3955. Documented for USS America (CVS-66) | |
| Fire Pump, Pump End Only, 6-DBN-21 | Warren Pumps | Maintenance Manual for USS America (CVA-66) |
Note: this manifest is derived from public asbestos litigation records (depositions, expert reports, manufacturer interrogatories) rather than primary BUSHIPS construction documents. Entries reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed legal records.
VA Benefits for America Veterans
USS America veterans with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease may qualify for VA disability compensation when evidence shows in-service asbestos exposure, a current diagnosis, and a medical link between them. The asbestos dust count measurements, Powell valve documentation, and active litigation record establish America’s asbestos exposure pathway.
Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956
All consultations are free. No fee unless a financial recovery is made on your behalf.
Documented asbestos exposure information derived from publicly filed asbestos litigation records. This does not constitute legal or medical advice.
The asbestos-containing products documented on U.S. Navy vessels and at shipyards are catalogued by manufacturer on AsbestosIndex. These records cross-reference which companies supplied which materials and to which facilities.
Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard America
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the public asbestos litigation record document that the following Navy ratings worked routinely in spaces where ACM was installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced:
VA Disability Claims for Asbestos-Related Disease
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates asbestos claims individually. A veteran generally needs medical evidence of a current asbestos-related disease, service evidence supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a medical opinion connecting the two. Ship assignments, Navy ratings, and equipment records can help document the exposure history but do not create automatic service connection.
Approved claims may provide monthly disability compensation and related benefits. Survivors may separately qualify for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation when the applicable requirements are met. Civil lawsuits and asbestos-trust claims use different standards; claimants should obtain individualized advice about how the processes interact.
How to file a VA disability claim: VA claims are filed directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — not with a law firm. Start at VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or get free help filing from a Veterans Service Organization: DAV, VFW, or American Legion.
VA Claims Guide on This Site › Compare: VA vs. Civil Lawsuit
Source notes: equipment-manifest entries (where shown) are sourced from public-record BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation, NARA archives, and the public asbestos litigation record. Manufacturer attributions link to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Nothing on this page constitutes medical or legal advice.
