U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16) | Shrader & Associates L.L.P.
Get in Touch Today

U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)

Over A Billion Recovered Nationwide

U.S.S. Joseph Strauss DDG 16 (Guided Missile Destroyer)

U.S.S. Joseph Strauss was a Charles F. Adams class guided missile destroyer, built by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden New Jersey and commissioned into service in April 1963. After shakedown exercises in the Caribbean, Joseph Strauss transited the Panama Canal to join the Pacific fleet.

Serving as the flagship for Destroyer Squadron 3 Joseph Strauss sailed to Yokosuka, Japan and was import there when informed of the Gulf of Tonkin incident, where the destroyer Maddox reported being attacked by North Vietnamese gunboats. Joseph Strauss participated in the build-up of US naval forces in the Gulf of Tonkin and the coast of Vietnam, providing carrier escort and screening services with several carriers.

From then until the summer of 1966, interspersed with port visits to Hong Kong, Subic Bay, and Yokosuka, Joseph Strauss patrolled waters around the escalating combat zones in Vietnam. Its normal duties included serving as a plane guard for aircraft carriers operating on Yankee Station, search and rescue operations and gunfire support of operations ashore.

The ship returned to Pearl Harbor in July 1966, operating in around Hawaii until returning to Vietnam in 1967. Joseph Strauss continued to operate Vietnamese waters, interrupted by other duties in the Pacific, until the end of the conflict.

Throughout the seventies and eighties, Joseph Strauss operated with units of the Pacific fleet, providing carrier screening services for various task groups, training and upgrading its abilities. In 1988, during the Iraq-Iran war, U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts struck an Iranian mine in the Persian Gulf. In retaliation, US surface forces, including Joseph Strauss, engaged units of the Iranian Navy in the largest surface action since World War Two. At least one Harpoon fired from the Joseph Strauss struck the Iranian frigate Sahand, contributing to the sinking of that vessel after out of control fires detonated one of its magazines.

Joseph Strauss was decommissioned in 1990 and transferred to the Greek navy. It was sold for scrapping in 2004.

Asbestos Exposure on U.S.S. Joseph Strauss

The New York Shipbuilding Company, which was not in New York but in Camden, New Jersey, constructed the Joseph Strauss at a time in which the long-term dangers of asbestos exposure and inhalation were relatively unknown. Extensive use of asbestos both within the shipyard and in the vessels being built was common. In ships under construction, the most common areas of use were in liners and packing for boilers, fireproofing of steel deck plates, insulation wrapping, known as lagging, for pipes, acoustical tiles, floor tiles and electrical insulation. Some or all of these materials were certainly used in the construction of Joseph Strauss.

By the mid-1970s, the Navy and other entities were becoming more concerned about the extent of asbestos exposure and its hazards in shipyards, but felt the problem to be unworthy of immediate abatement aboard ships. Asbestos wrapped pipes ran through berthing areas, dining areas and workstations within virtually every ship in the fleet, including Joseph Strauss. The decision to replace hazardous materials only when they became eligible for maintenance or repair ensured asbestos containing materials remained a part of U.S.S. Joseph Strauss for the duration of its service with the United States Navy.

We Take Our Clients’ Cases Personal

Helping Victims of Mesothelioma Is Why We Do What We Do

Your firm has made this stressful process easy and comfortable for me.

“In this difficult time for me, everyone in your office has been helpful and supportive in ensuring that not only are our objectives with my case met but also that my personal needs are accommodated.”
- Stephen

I couldn’t have done it without you.

“My case was complex, but you untangled the details of my asbestos exposure so that they were clear in court.”
- Sam

The professionals at Shrader & Associates did the work, hassle free, and ensured I was able to leave a legacy for my family.

“I hesitated to file suit because I thought going to trial would be a hassle. The professionals at Shrader & Associates did the work, hassle-free, and ensured I was able to leave a legacy for my family ...”
- Raymond

Your team stood by me throughout the entire process.

“The future looks a bit brighter for my family now.”
- Frank

Thanks to you, the grief of my loss would have been almost unbearable otherwise.

“The wonderful things you have done for us, the things you have made possible for my family, the doors you have opened – I will always be grateful.”
- Brian

Experience You Can Count On

Our Awards & Accolades

U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)
U.S.S. Joseph Strauss (DDG-16)

The Right Team Makes a Difference

Mesothelioma cases require technical knowledge and an understanding of complex laws. An attorney with experience trying these claims and substantial resources to leverage on your behalf is your best bet to having a strong case. We are nationally recognized for providing quality representation to mesothelioma patients and their families.

Meet Our Attorney

Choosing the Right Law Firm is an Important & Personal Decision

Why Shrader & Associates?

AWARD-WINNING

Our skilled approach to the practice of law has resulted in top ratings & awards from renowned legal organizations.

RESPECTED

Our attorneys have been invited into some of the most prestigious and recognized professional associations in the U.S.

RECOGNIZED

We’ve been featured on local and national news programs for our legal knowledge and winning results.

PROVEN

To date, we’ve secured countless million-dollar results for clients located throughout the country.