The USS New DDE 818 was a Gearing-class destroyer laid down and launched in 1945 and commissioned in 1946. After Caribbean training, the ship deployed to the Mediterranean, supporting U.S. diplomacy during the monarchy referendum in Greece and later patrolling near Trieste. Returning home in 1947, she conducted Atlantic training, ASW, and NATO exercises. The destroyer joined 6th Fleet operations near Lebanon in 1958, protecting American interests during regional unrest. The destroyer then joined the Cuban quarantine in 1962, conducting antisubmarine and surveillance operations before receiving a FRAM I modernization and ASROC system. Rejoining active service in 1963, she performed ASW missions, Mediterranean and Middle East patrols, then deployed to Vietnam in 1967 for rescue and naval gunfire support operations before later serving in the Indian Ocean and Middle East during 1968–69. Between 1969 and 1970, the ship supported the Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 recovery operations and conducted training missions. Following various refits and training operations through the early 1970s, the USS New was stricken from the Register in 1976. Destroyers built during the WW2 period contained extensive amounts of asbestos for insulation and fireproofing, putting personnel at an elevated risk of inhaling or ingesting asbestos dust and developing related diseases decades after service.
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