The USS Canberra (CA-70/CAG-2) was a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser laid down on September 3, 1941, and launched on April 19, 1943. It was commissioned on October 14, the same year under Capt. Alex Rieman Early’s command as CA-70 and served in the U.S. Navy for 18 years until it was decommissioned on February 2, 1970. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 1,142 people on board and had its main missions in Boston, Pearl Harbor, Bremerton, Bonin, Ulithi, Morotai, Norfolk, Okinawa, San Diego, Vietnam, and Cuba. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy Register on July 31, 1978, and sold for scrapping to National Metal two years later. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Canberra received 7 battle stars. Veterans who have been diagnosed with lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other asbestos diseases as a result of military service have access to a variety of VA benefit programs. The VA recognizes the risks associated with asbestos and provides benefits to support disabled veterans through programs that include VA disability compensation, dependency indemnity compensation, aid and attendance, and health care.
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