The USS Indiana (BB-58) was a South Dakota-class battleship laid down on November 20, 1939, and launched on November 21, 1941. She was commissioned on April 30, 1942, under Capt. Aaron S. Merrill’s command with the hull number BB-58 and served in the US Navy for 5 years until she was decommissioned on September 11, 1947. During her activity, the ship carried a complement of 1,793 men on board and had her main missions in Casco Maine, Cuba, Tonga, Nouméa, Marcus Island, Kwajalein, Truk, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on June 1, 1962, and sold for scrapping the following year. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Indiana received 9 battle stars.
Anyone who has worked onboard the USS Indiana (BB-58) or has been involved in her repair should be on the alert for signs of asbestos-related diseases and consult a doctor immediately if they experience signs of asbestos exposure affecting the lungs such as shortness of breath, dry cough or wheezing, crackling sound when breathing, chest pain or tightness, and repeated respiratory infections.
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