The USS Callaghan (DD/DDG-994) was the second destroyer of the Kidd class, laid down and launched in 1978 and commissioned in 1981. These destroyers were derived from the Spruance class and designed for air defense in hot weather. While deployed to the Western Pacific in 1983, the vessel searched for survivors of the Korean Air Lines Flight 007, which was taken down after straying into Soviet airspace. She received a Meritorious Unit Citation from the US Navy for her role in the mission. Between 1983 and 1984, the ship earned her first Battle Efficiency E grade and the Humanitarian Service Medal for saving two boatloads of people in the South China Sea. She won all the awards from the competing ships and received her second Battle Efficiency E grade between 1985 and 1986. The USS Callaghan went on various missions on her world cruise in the following years and participated in pursuing illegal drug handlers off Colombia waters during routine drug interdiction operations in 1997 before decommissioning in 1998. Navy veterans working with or around asbestos-containing products without proper protection are likely at a very high risk of developing cancers and severe pulmonary diseases. They should have health check-ups periodically.
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