December 1, 2025
Texas Navy veteran Mike Nelson has something especially meaningful to be grateful for this holiday season. After a long medical journey, Mike’s asbestos-related lawsuit has successfully resolved—bringing a degree of closure as he continues healing from two grueling lung surgeries.
It’s a welcome moment for a man who has spent his life giving back to others. In West Tawakoni, Texas, Mike is known not just as the commander of his local VFW post, but as a reliable volunteer in local schools and around the community. During the holiday season, he’s the go-to when someone needs a visit from Santa Claus. With a three-wheeled Can-Am motorcycle instead of a sled, a full white beard and an unmistakable twinkle in his eye, it helps that he looks the part. His only requirement: he absolutely will not accept payment for his services as Santa.
“Santa Claus — I love it,” Mike says. “A good friend of mine asked me if I’d do Santa Claus one year. Been doing it ever since. I do it for the mom and pop shops around here in our community. And I do it for the fire department during Christmas. Anytime you ask me, I’ll do it.”
After everything he’s been through, the role carries even deeper meaning this year.
A Lifetime of Service—In Uniform and at Home
Mike was only 17 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and was assigned to the USS Ponchatoula as a boiler tender. The work was demanding and dangerous as the Ponchatoula criss-crossed the Pacific performing a vital role providing fuel to ships and aircraft. In addition to the obvious wartime dangers, Mike and his shipmates were never told about the long-term hazards from asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, valves, and machinery that filled the ship’s boiler room.
“Everything down there was covered in asbestos,” he said. “We had no protective gear—we just did the job.”
After his service, Mike returned to Texas and built the kind of life many veterans strive for. He spent decades on the road as a long-haul truck driver, raised a family, stayed active in veterans’ organizations, and poured himself into his community.
Asbestos-Exposure Diagnosis After Routine Checkup
A routine medical checkup in early 2024 at the Dallas VA Medical Center revealed two suspicious spots on Mike’s lungs — one on each side. More testing followed, and then the news: cancer in both lungs. Within months, Mike endured two major surgeries, including the removal of three lobes total. Complications kept him in the hospital for six long months as he fought through pneumonia and slow, painful recovery.
“It was tough,” he said, “but you don’t give up.”
Navy Veterans Bear Burden of Asbestos Exposure
Mike’s experience is not uncommon. Navy veterans are among the largest groups facing the health consequences of asbestos exposure. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can lodge in the lungs and other tissues, leading to diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These illnesses may take decades to appear, making early exposure especially dangerous.
Asbestos-Exposure Attorneys Seeking Accountability
After the lung cancer diagnosis, another veteran encouraged Mike to explore whether his Navy service and asbestos exposure could be connected. That guidance led him to the asbestos exposure attorneys at Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel and Hawai‘i-based Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman, two of the nation’s leading firms representing individuals harmed by toxic chemical exposure, including asbestos.
Working closely with Mike, the legal team conducted a detailed investigation into the equipment and materials used aboard the Ponchatoula. Their findings confirmed what countless veterans have experienced: private manufacturers supplied asbestos-containing components to the Navy for decades, despite knowing the dangers and failing to warn or protect the service members who used their products.
Mike provided extensive testimony about the working conditions in the ship’s boiler room — evidence that helped the firm pursue claims against the responsible companies. Just before Thanksgiving, the team informed Mike that a series of monetary settlements had been finalized.
“It’s an honor to represent veterans like Mike who have given so much of their lives to serving our country,” said trial lawyer Chris Johnson. “We’re proud to stand beside them and help ensure they receive the justice and accountability they deserve after years of being unknowingly exposed to danger.”
A Meaningful Christmas Ahead
For Mike, this holiday season feels different. The resolution of his case marks an emotional turning point—a chance to look forward with gratitude after a year filled with physical and emotional challenges. As he continues monthly checkups at the VA, he’s focused on recovery, community, and enjoying another Christmas surrounded by people he loves.
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