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USS Converse (DD-509) in San Francisco Bay, California (USA), on 9 October 1944 (NH 95051)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Converse (DD-509), a Fletcher-class destroyer, served throughout the Pacific War from May 1943 to August 1945, seeing action in the Solomon Islands, Central Pacific, Philippines, and Okinawa campaigns. She earned a Presidential Unit Citation and 11 battle stars for her World War II service, including participation in major engagements such as the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Following decommissioning in April 1946, she was transferred to Spain under the Mutual Assistance Program in 1959 and served as Almirante Valdés until being scrapped in 1988.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine
Launched
1942-08-30
Commissioned
1942-11-20
Decommissioned
1946-04-23
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1943-1945
Combat Actions
Battle of Empress Augusta Bay· 1943-11 Destroyer screening and naval gunfire support
Battle of the Philippine Sea· 1944-06 Carrier task force screening
Bougainville Operation· 1943-10 Amphibious support and bombardment
Saipan Invasion· 1944-06 Carrier task force screening and bombardment
Leyte Resupply Operations· 1944-11 Convoy escort and anti-aircraft defense
Corregidor Recapture· 1945-02 Naval gunfire support
Okinawa Radar Picket Duty· 1945-05 Radar picket and anti-aircraft defense
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Port Purvis, Solomon Islands — forward base 1943-1944
Sydney, Australia — repairs December 1943
Mare Island Naval Shipyard — overhaul August 1944
Subic Bay — brief overhaul March 1945
Brooklyn Naval Yard — overhaul 1946
Charleston, South Carolina — decommissioned reserve 1946
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Sydney, Australia· 1943-12 repairs
Mare Island Naval Shipyard· 1944 overhaul
Subic Bay· 1945-03 brief overhaul
Brooklyn Naval Yard· 1945-10 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
24-25 November 1943 — struck by Japanese torpedo in engine room (failed to explode)
3 December 1943 — near-miss from Japanese bomber caused electrical failure and radar outage
21 December 1944 — attacked by Japanese suicide planes; rescued 266 survivors of LST-749
Final Disposition
Transferred to Spain as Almirante Valdés (D23) 1959 — scrapped 1988
USS Converse (DD-509) 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 Converse (DD-509). 6 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Equipment
Manufacturer
Qty
Notes
Pump
Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc.
Serial 10420, USS Converse DD-509
Turbine
Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc.
Serial 10421, USS Converse DD-509
Main Condenser Circulating Pump
Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc.
DD-509 (USS Converse) listed in Warren Steam Pump Company vessel schedule
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 Converse
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 Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.
Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.
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.
Converse DD-509 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Converse DD-509 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Converse DD-509 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 Converse DD-509 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Converse DD-509'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 Converse DD-509?
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 Converse DD-509?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Converse DD-509 include: General Electric, Kingsbury, Terry, Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc.. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Converse DD-509 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Yes. Mesothelioma is recognized by the VA as service-connected for veterans with documented Navy service and qualifying asbestos exposure. Converse DD-509 veterans (or surviving family) typically file at VA.gov, by phone at 1-800-827-1000, or with assistance from a Veterans Service Officer through DAV, VFW, or American Legion. Civil claims against asbestos product manufacturers are separate from VA benefits — many veterans pursue both paths.
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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