The USS Northampton (CLC-1) was an Oregon City-class light cruiser laid down on August 31, 1944, and launched on January 27, 1951. It was commissioned on March 7, 1953, under Capt. William D. Irvin’s command as CA-125 and served in the US Navy for 17 years until it decommissioned on April 8, 1970. On April 15, 1961, the ship was reclassified as CC-1. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 2,000 people on board and had its main missions in Portsmouth, Cuba or Panama. "I served in the “R” division and worked piping and all metals. We removed asbestos covering to repair piping and ductwork for the heating air conditioning and then restoring it when the repair was finished", said William S. who served onboard the USS Northampton. Repair Division is home to a mix of damage controlmen, hull technicians, and damage control petty officers. Damage controlmen were most susceptible to long-term asbestos exposure. These were the sailors that made emergency repair services, often after an enemy has attacked. Damage controlmen were unaware that they were breathing asbestos. When repairs were needed in order to keep the ship’s systems stable and functional, asbestos would be sent into the air as particles, which they’d inhale, putting them at risk of asbestos-related diseases.
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