Shipyard, deployment, and service events for this vessel documented in the public record — court filings, the ship’s deck logs, or the crew’s own cruise book (each entry cites its source). Dry-dockings, overhauls, and yard periods were when asbestos insulation was torn out and replaced, the peak-exposure work for the crew and yard workers aboard.
1956
Mooring / movement · San Diego — Moored/underway near San Diego, per the ship's deck log.
1956
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1957
Mooring / movement — Moored/underway, per the ship's deck log.
1957
Mooring / movement · San Diego — Moored/underway near San Diego, per the ship's deck log.
Derived from publicly filed asbestos-litigation records, ship’s deck logs, and the crew’s own cruise books. Historical service events; this does not constitute legal or medical advice.
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USS Henderson (DD-785) underway 1971Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Henderson (DD-785) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned in August 1945 and named for USMC Major Lofton R. Henderson. Following post-war operations in the Pacific, she conducted three separate tours of duty during the Korean War, earning recognition for her gunfire support and mine-clearing operations at Inchon and throughout the conflict. Following extensive FRAM I modernization at Mare Island in 1961–1962, Henderson deployed repeatedly to Southeast Asia from 1964 to 1971, providing fire support and escort duties during the Vietnam War.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington
Laid down
1944-10-27
Launched
1945-05-28
Commissioned
1945-08-04
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Post-WWII Pacific 1945-1950
Korean War 1950-1953
Cold War Far East Patrols 1954-1964
Vietnam War 1964-1971
Combat Actions
Inchon Invasion· 1950-09 mine clearance and shore bombardment
Siege of Wonsan· 1953 gunfire support
Vietnam War gunline operations· 1964-1971 shore bombardment and escort
Home Ports & Forward Bases
San Diego, California — home port
Seattle, Washington — commissioning port
Yokosuka, Japan — forward base
Long Beach, California — primary West Coast base
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Mare Island Naval Shipyard· 1961-1962 FRAM I modernization
San Francisco Naval Shipyard· 1969 dry dock overhaul
Asbestos rip-out, insulation replacement, and gasket-packing work occurred during these yard periods. Sailors aboard during overhauls had peak exposure to airborne asbestos fiber.
Notable Incidents
1960 — survived Typhoon Mary direct hit while serving as station ship in Hong Kong
1966 — participated in unsuccessful air-sea search for aircraft carrying Brigadier General Joseph Warren Stilwell, Jr.
1968 — served in Operation Formation Star supporting USS Pueblo (AGER-2) off North Korea
1969 — storm damage to forward 5-inch gun mount near Midway Island; diverted to Yokosuka for repairs
1970 — rescued six passengers from SH-3 Sea King helicopter crash
Read the video transcript
Did you serve aboard the USS Henderson? This destroyer carried asbestos in nearly every compartment. Here is where it was, and who is responsible. The USS Henderson, hull number DD-785, was a destroyer, built by Todd Pacific Shipyards and commissioned in 1945. She served through Post-WWII Pacific, Korean War, and Cold War Far East Patrols. Public naval references list this equipment aboard the USS Henderson, DD-785 — 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 Henderson from makers such as Warren, Buffalo Pumps, Warren Engr. Co., and John Crane allegedly contained asbestos. If you served aboard the USS Henderson 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 Henderson (DD-785) is a documented U.S. Navy destroyer with asbestos-exposure evidence in the public litigation record. The equipment manifest below was assembled from depositions, expert reports, and manufacturer interrogatory responses filed in U.S. asbestos litigation that reference equipment installed aboard this vessel.
Equipment Manifest
Equipment Manifest — USS Henderson (DD-785). 5 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
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.
AsbestosIndex™Product & Manufacturer Reference
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 Henderson
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:
Fireman (FN) — engineering-plant tending across boiler and engine rooms
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.
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.
Documented Asbestos-Exposure Environments — U.S. Navy Service
Public-domain U.S. Navy photographs illustrating the engineering spaces, ratings, and yard environments where asbestos materials were routinely encountered during normal duty.
All images are public domain (U.S. Government works). Specific photographs depict generic Navy engineering and yard environments — not the named vessel above. Asbestos materials shown or implied include pipe lagging, boiler insulation, steam-line covering, and gasket / packing materials standard on U.S. Navy vessels through the early 1980s.
Henderson DD-785 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Henderson DD-785 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Henderson DD-785 is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. U.S. Navy vessels of her service era were built to BUSHIPS specifications that required asbestos insulation throughout engineering spaces, on steam lines, around boilers and turbines, and in gasket and packing materials.
Which shipboard components on Henderson DD-785 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Henderson DD-785's era include: boiler insulation and lagging, steam-line pipe insulation, turbine and reduction-gear casings, valve packing, gaskets, brake and clutch friction materials, electrical wire insulation, overhead pipe coverings in berthing and mess spaces, and Navy-issue boiler cement and refractory in fireboxes.
What ratings were exposed to asbestos serving on Henderson DD-785?
Navy ratings with the highest documented asbestos exposure include Machinist's Mate (MM), Boiler Technician (BT), Hull Maintenance Technician (HT), Engineman (EN), Electrician's Mate (EM), Interior Communications Electrician (IC), Damage Controlman (DC), and Pipefitter / Shipfitter. Officers in engineering departments also encountered asbestos in normal duty. Shipyard workers performing overhaul, repair, or refit work had concentrated exposure during yard periods.
What equipment manufacturers are documented on Henderson DD-785?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Henderson DD-785 include: Buffalo Pumps, John Crane, Warren, Warren Engr. Co.. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Henderson DD-785 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Potentially. VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims individually. Henderson DD-785 veterans generally need medical records showing the current disease, service records supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a doctor's statement connecting the two. Veterans may file at VA.gov, call 1-800-827-1000, or seek free help from an accredited Veterans Service Organization such as DAV, VFW, or the American Legion.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this site. References to ships, shipyards, companies, products, and asbestos-containing materials are drawn from public VA records, NARA archives, EPA/OSHA databases, and public litigation records. All references reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed records. Consult a licensed physician for medical guidance and a qualified attorney for legal advice regarding your specific situation.
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