The USS Picking (DD-685) was a Fletcher-class destroyer laid down on November 24, 1942, and launched on June 1, the following year. It was commissioned on September 21, 1943, under Comdr. Raymond S. Lamb’s command with the hull number DD-685 and it served in the US Navy for 26 years before it was decommissioned on September 6, 1969. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 329 people on board and had its main missions in San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Okinawa, Oahu, Long Beach, South Vietnam, Newport, Derry and Kerama Retto. It was struck from the Navy List on March 1, 1975, and used as a target during training exercises in 1997. For the service brought to the country during World War II, the USS Picking (DD-685) received 5 battle stars and another 1 for the Korean activity. Asbestos was an ideal material for multiple uses in the shipbuilding industry: insulation in pipes and motors, flooring, and walls, electrical wiring, fireproofing materials, protective gear, and others. Veterans involved in active duty who developed life-threatening illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure are eligible for compensation from asbestos trust funds and VA claims.
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