Jim Gahan developed mesothelioma, an asbestos-caused cancer, over 15 years after ending his Navy service. With our help, Jim secured a very strong financial payout to afford the medical care needed to live longer.
Jim joined the U.S. Navy as a young adult in 1973 during the final years of the Vietnam War. He spent the next 20 years serving his country aboard three vessels — the USS Independence (CV-62), the USS Truckee (AO-147), and the USS Vulcan (AR-5).
All of these U.S. Navy ships contained asbestos, putting Jim and everyone else aboard at risk of exposure.
Nearly all Navy vessels built between the 1930s and early 1980s used asbestos, putting many more service members in danger.
Government mandates required the use of asbestos on Navy ships to help prevent fires, stop corrosion, and keep the vessels more durable.
By the time that the risks of asbestos became public knowledge in the early 1980s, Jim had already suffered years of exposure.
Jim was at a particularly high risk of asbestos exposure as he worked as a Navy ship boiler tender. Many boiler components were built with asbestos before the dangers were fully understood.
Jim was exposed to asbestos-containing products like:
While Jim kept the ships’ boilers running through his repair and maintenance efforts, he unknowingly released asbestos fibers into the air. He breathed in and swallowed the microscopic fibers on a daily basis, which caused him to develop mesothelioma decades later.
Later renovation efforts removed asbestos from most ships, but it was too late to prevent the risk of mesothelioma in U.S. Navy veterans who had already been exposed, like Jim.
Get a Free Veterans Kit now to learn how we can assist U.S. veterans who developed mesothelioma like Jim. We can help you access benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), compensation, and treatments following a diagnosis.
After leaving the U.S. Navy in 1993, Jim lived in Texas with his wife, Peggy, where they raised their children and grandchildren.
Jim’s idyllic life was shattered in 2009 — 16 years after retiring from the Navy and 36 years after he started working with asbestos. Jim had been complaining of respiratory problems and saw a doctor who diagnosed him with mesothelioma.
Most mesothelioma veterans are diagnosed in their 70s, but the cancer can develop at any age. Jim was only in his mid-50s when he was diagnosed.
Jim’s cancer was advanced, which meant his treatment options were limited. His doctor gave him just months to live.
Adding to Jim and Peggy’s stress were mounting medical bills. There was simply no way for them to afford the treatments that would give Jim more time with his loved ones. However, help was on the way.
Jim and Peggy turned to U.S. veteran-founded law firm Simmons Hanly Conroy, which is the legal partner of the Mesothelioma Veterans Center and has recovered billions of dollars for those harmed by asbestos-related diseases.
The firm’s mesothelioma lawyers did the legal heavy lifting for Jim, meaning that he was able to focus on getting treatments without worrying about how he would pay for them.
U.S. veterans can still file for VA benefits even if they work with firm. This is because its lawyers do not sue the U.S. military or government in mesothelioma cases, but rather the manufacturers of asbestos products, which hid the health risks for decades.
Get a Free Veterans Kit to learn how we may be able to help you and your family secure compensation and VA benefits.
By working with the firm, Jim received mesothelioma compensation he needed to cover his medical bills and keep his family financially stable.
With his financial worries eased, Jim poured his energy into fighting mesothelioma. While originally given months to live, Jim survived for over a year and a half.
Jim passed away in late 2010 at the age of 57, and Peggy followed less than a year later. However, their legacy of courage in the face of cancer will never be forgotten.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center proudly features the stories of Jim and other veterans who fought mesothelioma. We’ll listen to your story too and help you access VA benefits, medical care, and legal compensation after a diagnosis.
Call (877) 450-8973 now to share your story with us, or Get a Free Veterans Kit to learn about all the ways we can assist you.
