USS Caron (DD-970)

The USS Caron (DD-970) was a Spruance-class destroyer built at the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi. Her keel was laid on 1 July 1974 and she was launched on 23 June 1975 and commissioned on 1 October 1977.

Service History

During one of her first deployments to the Mediterranean, Caron entered the Black Sea where she was the target of a "mock missile attack" by Soviet aircraft. In October 1983, she was part of the U.S. invasion of Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury. The following month, Caron was deployed to Lebanon for five months as part of a multinational peacekeeping effort.

On 10 March 1986, Caron departed from Norfolk for Operation Attain Document, a freedom-of-navigation exercise in the Gulf of Sidra off the coast of Libya. Operating with the carrier Ticonderoga, Caron moved south of the Libya-claimed "Line of Death," prompting a reaction from Libya and resulting in two days of low-intensity conflict during which Caron did not fire any weapons.

In 1988, Caron was again in the Black Sea, where she was rammed by a Soviet Mirka II-class light frigate, whose crew believed the U.S. vessel was in violation of international law. The Caron underwent an overhaul in 1990. The following January, she was deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm, remaining until the objective was secured. She would return to the Persian Gulf from January until July 1996 and again from February to August 1998.

The Caron spent the period from early January to 4 June 1999 undergoing a regular overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding near Norfolk, Virginia. This overhaul included modifications to accommodate female crew members.

The USS Caron made her last overseas deployment to the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf from June to December 2000. She was decommissioned on 15 October 2001 and was scuttled off the coast of Puerto Rico on 4 December 2002 during ordnance testing.

Asbestos Risks

Although the USS Caron was built during a time when the use of asbestos was limited, asbestos-containing materials were still likely aboard the vessel. As a result, crew members may have been exposed to asbestos throughout their daily routines and may be at risk of developing an illness related to asbestos, including mesothelioma.

If you have already been diagnosed with an illness related to asbestos exposure, you may have legal options for compensation. Many have received financial assistance to help pay for medical expenses and lost income. If you would like to learn more about this and treatment options, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a complimentary packet.

Sources

Destroyers Index