The USS Lang (DD-399) was a Benham-class destroyer laid down on April 5, 1937, and launched on August 27, 1938. It was commissioned on March 30, the following year under Lt. Comdr. Felix L. Johnson’s command with the hull number DD-399 and served in the US Navy for 6 years until it was decommissioned on October 16, 1945. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 184 people on board and had its main missions in New Port, Halifax, San Diego, Sandy Hook, Port Royal, and New Hebrides. After the decommissioning, the ship was sold to George Nutman Inc. in Brooklyn and scrapped in 1947. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Lang (DD-399) received 11 battle stars. Between the 1930s up to mid-1970s, U.S. Navy veterans had an increased risk for asbestos-related diseases due to their exposure while building, overhauling, and decommissioning ships, which involved releasing massive amounts of asbestos into the air. Some Navy jobs were performed in tight areas with poor ventilation and workers were rarely provided with proper respiratory protection. Victims of asbestos exposure are entitled to compensation, which can help cover expenses from medical care.
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