The USS Moinester (FF-1097) was a Knox-class frigate laid down in 1972, launched in 1973, and commissioned in 1974. After fitting out, the ship conducted a two-month shakedown in 1975 and joined the Atlantic Fleet in the same year. She became the flagship of the newly formed DESRON 10 and participated in routine anti-submarine warfare exercises. During the 1980s, the destroyer conducted multiple deployments to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, performed an anti-submarine warfare role, demonstrated forward presence during NATO exercises, and participated in Caribbean humanitarian missions. The vessel underwent repairs in the early 1980s and was upgraded with Harpoon anti-ship missiles and an advanced electronic warfare system. She was redesignated as a training frigate (FFT-1097) and assigned to the Naval Reserve Force, where she supported training with reserve crews until her decommissioning in 1994. The USS Moinester was stricken from the Register a year later. Despite its value as an insulator on Navy ships, asbestos was a significant risk factor for veterans' health, causing devastating exposure-related diseases decades after service. Former naval personnel diagnosed with cancer linked to asbestos contamination may qualify for compensation from the asbestos trust funds and the VA.
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