The USS De Haven (DD-727) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer laid down on August 9, 1943, as DD-727 and launched on January 9, the following year. It was commissioned on March 31, 1944, under Commander John B. Dimmick’s command and served in the US Navy for 29 years until it was decommissioned in 1973. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 336 people on board and had its main missions in Pearl Harbor, Ulithi, Eniwetok, Iwo Jima, Leyte, Korea, Beijing and Sasebo. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on December 3, 1973, and sold to South Korea where it was renamed Incheon. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS De Haven received 5 battle stars and another 6 for the Korean activity. Asbestos was the main ingredient in structural fireproofing materials used aboard aircraft carriers, amphibious warships, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, escorts, frigates, minesweepers, submarines, auxiliary ships, and merchant marine ships built in the mid-20th century. All crewmen were exposed to the hazardous mineral, including firemen, boiler tenders, enginemen, seamen, ship’s servicemen, machinist’s mates, and electrician’s mates.
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