The USS Blakely (DE-1072/FF-1072) was a Knox-class destroyer escort laid down in 1968, launched in 1969, and commissioned in 1970. At the beginning of the 1970s, the ship completed trials, upgrades, and missile installation, then conducted weapons qualification and a European cruise. In 1972, the destroyer escort deployed to the western Pacific and briefly served in Vietnam. Between 1975–1976 she underwent upgrades and overhauls, was redesignated a frigate with hullnumber FF 1072. Between 1976 and 1977, the ship underwent an overhaul, trained in the West Indies, deployed to Europe with the 6th Fleet, then returned to the US to resume 2d Fleet operations. Through the 1980s, she conducted Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Middle East deployments, participated in multinational exercises, evacuations, and training missions, and maintained readiness with the 2d and 6th Fleets. The USS Blakely was decommissioned in 1991 and struck from the Register in 1995. During World War II, Navy ships were the homes to thousands of personnel who were unknowingly serving in an asbestos-contaminated environment. Consequently, sailors were exposed to inhaling asbestos dust regularly, leading to many developing severe diseases years after their service.
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