The USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier launched on November 28, 1943. It was commissioned on January 3, the following year with the hull number CVE-74 under Capt. Horace A. Butterfield’s command and served in the US Navy for 2 years until it was decommissioned on 15 May 1946. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 916 men on board and had its main missions in Manus, San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Majuro, Eniwetok, the Marianas, Ulithi, and Okinawa. After the decommissioning, the ship was sold for scrapping on June 29, 1960, to Coalmarket, Inc. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Nehenta Bay received 7 battle stars. The USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74) like many other Navy ships, contained enormous amounts of asbestos products. Asbestos was frequently used in boiler pipe insulation in order to prevent fires, due to its excellent heat retaining properties. The corrugated-paper-like asbestos wrap was also used around boilers because it is non-corrosive and it doesn't conduct electricity. Workers aboard the USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74) were heavily exposed to asbestos fibers and are at the risk of developing serious diseases as a result of servicing boilers, engines, pipes, and other components insulated with asbestos.
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