The USS Eversole (DD-789) was a Gearing-class destroyer laid down in 1945, launched, and commissioned in 1946. The ship completed two deployments with the 7th Fleet, patrolling waters off the coasts of China and Japan before the start of the Korean War. The destroyer’s first deployment during the Korean War was in 1951, screening fast-carrier task forces that conducted air strikes against North Korean targets. On her second tour in 1952, the ship participated in coastal bombardment operations; she completed a third deployment during the Korean War in 1953, earning seven battle stars. Between 1954 and 1962, the destroyer was deployed annually to the Far East, assigned to patrol operations in Taiwan, and participated in exercises near Japan, Okinawa, and the Philippines. In 1969, the vessel supported operations in Vietnam, fulfilling plane guard duties for 7th Fleet carriers and providing naval gunfire support for ground forces. Because Naval standards mandated extensive use of asbestos products, service on all ships built before 1980 impacted thousands of veterans’ health. Those who routinely handled asbestos products were at a high risk of developing severe diseases stemming from their exposure decades after their military years.
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