The USS Lamons (DE-743) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort laid down on April 10, 1943, and launched on August 1, the same year. It was commissioned on February 29, 1944, under Lt. Cmdr. C. K. Hutchison’s command with the hull number DE-743 and served in the US Navy for 2 years until it was decommissioned on June 14, 1946. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 216 men on board and had its main missions in San Francisco, Saipan, the Marianas, Leyte, Palau Islands, Ulithi, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on August 1, 1972. A year later, the ship was sold for scrapping. Everyone onboard the USS Lamons (DE-743) was exposed to asbestos. Once asbestos is damaged in any way it’s easily breakable or friable. The tight spaces and lack of proper ventilation left all Navy veterans defenseless against the asbestos fibers released into the air. However, some occupations were exposed more than others, including boiler workers, pipefitters, insulators, plumbers, welders, electricians, machinists, and engineers. Asbestos was mainly used in the boiler and engine rooms. However, it was also used to insulate piping systems which were found and exposed throughout the entire ship including the galley and the sleeping quarters.
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