Korean War Era Asbestos Exposure (1950-1953)

The Korean War era saw rapid Navy expansion and continued use of WWII-era ships. Korean War veterans served on ships saturated with asbestos pipe insulation, refractory, and gaskets. Civilian shipyard workers supported the wartime fleet at major naval shipyards nationwide.

Korean War-era exposure profile

Many Korean War-era ships were WWII-era vessels still in service or rapidly built/refit during the conflict. Asbestos use was at its peak — virtually every ship had extensive asbestos installations. Korean War-era veterans now in their late 80s and 90s continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma; surviving spouses and children also have eligibility for wrongful death claims.

The 1973 NPRC fire — major documentation challenge

On July 12, 1973, a fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis destroyed approximately 16-18 million military service records. The losses were heaviest for Army personnel discharged 1912-1959 (80% loss rate) and Air Force personnel discharged 1947-1963 (75% loss rate). Navy and Marine Corps records were largely unaffected.

For Army and Air Force Korean War veterans: primary service records may be unavailable. Workarounds include: alternate records (VA records, Reserve records, hospital records, payroll records), buddy statements from fellow service members, and the NPRC's reconstructed records process. Despite the documentation challenge, Korean War-era claims remain viable through alternative documentation paths.

Applicable trust funds for Korean War era

The same major trusts that cover WWII and Vietnam veterans apply: Babcock & Wilcox, Combustion Engineering (boilers), Owens-Illinois (early Kaylo, started 1948), Eagle-Picher, Manville, Harbison-Walker (refractory), Garlock (gaskets).

Korean War-era veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma should pursue trust filings despite documentation challenges — alternative paths exist for nearly every documentation gap. Take the eligibility quiz or call +1-800-400-1805.