USS Coolbaugh (DE-217) Areas With Asbestos Exposure

The USS Coolbaugh (DE-217) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort laid down on February 22, 1943, and launched on May 29, the same year. It was commissioned on October 15, 1943, under Lt. Comdr. L. S. Kintberger’s command with the hull number DE-217 and served in the U.S. Navy for 16 years until it was decommissioned on February 21, 1960. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 213 men on board and had its main missions in the Solomons, Manus, Emirau, Eniwetok, Leyte, Ulithi, and Iwo Jima. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on July 1, 1972. All Navy personnel, Merchant Mariners, and personnel who have served or/and performed maintenance aboard military ships built in the first half of the 20th century need to be aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure and realize that signs and symptoms may take years to develop. The USS Coolbaugh (DE-217), like many other Naval ships, was constructed with numerous products containing asbestos. Asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and packing were commonly used aboard Buckley-class destroyers.