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Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Peterson (DD-969) was a Spruance-class destroyer commissioned in 1977 and named for Lieutenant Commander Carl Jerrold Peterson. She conducted extensive Cold War and post-Cold War operations across the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, and Atlantic, earning multiple battle efficiency awards and naval commendations for service including support operations during the Iran Hostage Crisis, Lebanon civil unrest, Libyan operations, the 1993 Gulf War, Kosovo campaign, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Decommissioned in October 2002, Peterson was deliberately sunk in February 2004 in the Atlantic Ocean as part of weapons testing for the DD(X) destroyer program.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi
Commissioned
1977-07-09
Decommissioned
2002-10-04
Notable Tours / Service Eras
Persian Gulf Cold War 1979-1981
Mediterranean Cold War 1981-1990
NATO Arctic Exercise 1985
Persian Gulf Gulf War 1993
Haiti Operation Uphold Democracy 1994
Atlantic NATO Operations 1997
Mediterranean NATO Kosovo Campaign 1999
Persian Gulf Operation Enduring Freedom 2001-2002
Combat Actions
Libyan combat operations· 1986 search and rescue support
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Ingalls Shipbuilding Company· 1982 overhaul with weapons system upgrades
Ingalls Shipbuilding Company, Pascagoula, Mississippi· 1991 thirteen-month overhaul with VLS and SONAR installation
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
18 November 2001 — boarding of Samra, Iraqi oil-smuggling vessel; ship sank killing 2 USS Peterson crewmen and 1 Samra crew member
Final Disposition
sunk in western North Atlantic Ocean 16 February 2004 for weapons effect tests (DD(X) program)
USS Peterson (DD-969) is a documented U.S. Navy destroyer. The equipment reference below was extracted from the publicly-available Wikipedia article on this vessel, which cites the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) — the U.S. Navy’s official ship-history publication maintained by the Naval History and Heritage Command.
Equipment Reference
Equipment Manifest — USS Peterson (DD-969). 3 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
Phalanx CIWS
General Dynamics
2
20mm mounts installed during 1982 overhaul
Mk 41 Vertical Launch System
Raytheon
1
Installed during 1991 overhaul
SQQ-89 Anti-Submarine Warfare SONAR
Raytheon
1
Installed during 1991 overhaul
Source: this equipment reference was extracted from public Wikipedia/DANFS records for USS Peterson (DD-969). These are secondary-source records — not primary BUSHIPS design documents. For litigation purposes, this data is a starting point; a ship-specific BUSHIPS Material Inspection Report or commissioning book would provide gold-standard verification.
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 Peterson
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.
Peterson DD-969 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Peterson DD-969 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Peterson DD-969 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 Peterson DD-969 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Peterson DD-969'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 Peterson DD-969?
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 Peterson DD-969?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Peterson DD-969 include: General Dynamics, Raytheon. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Peterson DD-969 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. Peterson DD-969 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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