The USS Braxton was a Haskell-class attack transport ship which was built in 1944 by the California Shipbuilding Corporation under a Maritime Commission contract. It was sponsored by Mrs. J. R. DeFrees and acquired by the U.S. Navy at the end of the year. The ship served during World War II and participated in Operation Magic Carpet by sailing to San Pedro, California.
Because asbestos was heavily employed by the U.S. Navy before 1980, when proper regulations came into effect, the carcinogenic mineral was also present in enormous amounts on the USS Braxton, which greatly endangered the health of everyone who was serving on it. By inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers, exposure occurs, which may lead to the development of serious diseases, such as lung cancer or mesothelioma. In 1973, the USS Braxton was sold for scrap to the Union Minerals and Alloys Corporation in New York.
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