Named after the Rushville city of Indiana, the ship was laid down by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard Corporation in 1945 under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. The SS Rushville Victory served during World War II in the European Theatre of Operations and was responsible for repatriating troops at the end of the conflict. It was built for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. The SS Rushville Victory was sold for private cargo shipping in 1947 and sank near Antwerp in 1958. There were over 300 different asbestos products aboard the ship, which greatly endangered the health of everyone present on it. Asbestos exposure, which occurs when a person inhales or ingests asbestos fibers from the air, can lead to terrible diseases within 20 to 50 years, such as lung cancer or mesothelioma. On the SS Rushville Victory, the heaviest asbestos exposure occurred in the propulsion room, the damage control room, the pump room, and the engine room. Because diseases which stem from asbestos exposure are asymptomatic in their early phases, we strongly encourage veterans to undergo periodical medical examinations, as they are at high risk of developing a disease.
760-621-6147