The USS Gato (SS-212) was the lead ship of her class of submarine in the United States Navy. Sponsored by Mrs. Louise Ingersoll, wife of Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll, the USS Gato (SS-212) was commissioned in 1941 and won multiple awards, such as the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Occupation Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, as well as 13 battle stars. The USS Gato was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1960 and subsequently sold for scrap. When asbestos is broken up, such as during maintenance or repair work or when removing asbestos insulation, dust may be created. If the dust is inhaled or swallowed, the asbestos fibers will settle in the lungs where they can cause irritation that may lead to the development of cancer. It can take 10 to 40 years or more for asbestos-related diseases. Because of the time period in which asbestos was used and the multitude of materials in which it was incorporated, those who served in the US Navy are often the individuals who have the highest rate of asbestos-related diseases later on in life.
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