Veterans Still Dying from ‘Miracle Mineral’ Asbestos Linked to Mesothelioma

Army veteran Alan Bonnin would be alive today if not for an aggressive three-year fight with asbestos-causing mesothelioma that ultimately took his life.

The hardworking husband, father and retired soldier never questioned his work as a longtime mechanic and HVAC technician after leaving the armed forces. His specialty of working on brakes and then later for 30 years at a heating and cooling company is believed to be how he contracted the cancer from the hidden asbestos risk he faced on the job.

“I never thought that I would be affected by something like mesothelioma,” Bonnin said in a testimonial video before his death, conducted for his attorneys at the national Sokolove Law Firm and shared with Military.com. “As an infant, my dad worked on a hydroelectric dam. As I got older, I would help him with brake jobs, and asbestos was the thing for brakes.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs. The area most commonly affected is the lining of the lungs and chest wall, with symptoms that include shortness of breath, a swollen abdomen, chest wall pain, cough, feeling tired, and weight loss.

The MD Anderson Cancer Institute says the primary cause is asbestos, historically used in construction, shipbuilding, automotive brakes and other manufacturing.

“All branches of the U.S. military used asbestos. In the early days, it was considered a ‘miracle mineral’ – heat resistant, fire resistant, cold resistant and strong,” Ricky LeBlanc, managing attorney at Sokolove Law, told Military.com. “Asbestos was used wherever you had a high heat situation, around boilers and steam pipes, aircraft, etc. It was also used to prevent fires as a firestop.”

Mesothelioma’s Commonality Among Service Members

Cases of mesothelioma among members of the military are more common than one may think.

“In the claims we see from around the country, veterans make up about 33% of all mesothelioma claims nationally,” said LeBlanc. “Our mesothelioma clients have always hovered between 33% and 42% of our caseload.”

Bonnin died in 2025, but was never alone in his fight. He died surrounded by his wife, Constance, and their four sons, three of whom have autism. Bonnin was also part of a legion of military veterans and civilians diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed while carrying out their daily lives and military careers.

“When you’re looking at the man who has been your rock, your entire marriage, and to see him laid open like that—yeah, mesothelioma changed our lives drastically,” said Constance Bonnin, Alan’s wife. “We should be getting ready for grandkids, we should be planning for our little vacations. We should be doing so many things.”

Sokolove Law handles mesothelioma cases that are still actively being filed due to asbestos exposure that may have happened decades ago, showing just how long the effects of asbestos exposure can persist. But the life expectancy for a victim is relatively short.

“Mesothelia is a rare disease, with about 3,000 cases diagnosed a year,” LeBlanc said. “A person with mesothelioma, once diagnosed, in general, has six months to a year and a half to live. In recent times, we have seen that the timespan has increased slightly thanks to new therapies and treatments.”

Companies, Military Unknowingly Used Asbestos

LeBlanc says early on, the U.S. military and countless private companies had no idea the asbestos products they were using could be so harmful and deadly.

“In fairness, the federal government was duped just like our soldiers, factory workers, and others,” LeBlanc said. “They were sold products with asbestos as a ‘miracle mineral’ that turned out to be a nightmare.

“So, the claims are not against the government or any military branch. They’re against the manufacturers that made these asbestos products originally. They knew the harm because their own plant workers were dying at a high rate. They just failed at letting everybody know.”

The process of filing a claim can be long and daunting, with statute of limitations, corporate trusts and veterans benefit filing deadlines to navigate. All of it can be overwhelming, especially for sick patients and their families.

“There are hundreds of companies that manufactured asbestos over the years,” LeBlanc said, adding that his firm has recovered $5.5 billion in mesothelioma claims for clients, and counting. “Every complaint will have dozens of defendants for each.”

I’ve had a case with 87 defendants listed. That’s 87 companies that we’re holding accountable for asbestos exposure.

He referred to some as “the usual suspects,” such as major household brands like General Electric, Owens-Corning and Johns-Manville.

“Basically, any type of equipment that was used or ever manufactured that had any kind of heat—hair dryers, toasters, cosmetic powders, baby powder, industrial talc—all had asbestos made by these companies.”

Legal Advice for Mesothelioma Patients

LeBlanc implores any veteran with a mesothelioma diagnosis to consult a specialized mesothelioma attorney immediately and simultaneously file for VA disability benefits right away.

“This kind of litigation has been going on for 40 years, with certain attorneys and law firms who already know the immediate steps to take,” said LeBlanc. “We have records already in place, and are already in contact with the manufacturers that we are holding accountable. Most of them have agreed in a blanket way that asbestos was there, and there was definite exposure.”

Constance Bonnin said that having a specialized attorney helped her family, though they couldn’t save her husband’s life.

“It was amazingly efficient,” she said. “We would have been lost without the firm coming to our help, and being able to say, ‘We know what to do for you, we know how to file, we know every step you need to take, and we will be there for you.'”

LeBlanc said there are no winners in these cases, but he knows the legal fight is worth it for victims and families who have nowhere else to turn.

“I can try to bring justice, but I can’t give you your health back,” LeBlanc said. “There are real victims—a spouse of 60 years, a granddad, a best friend. We work hard to deliver some recognition of their sacrifice and some knowledge that their family will be taken care of when they’re gone.”