USS Queens (APA-103) Areas With Asbestos Exposure

The USS Queens (APA-103) was a Windsor-class attack transport laid down on March 2, 1944, and launched on September 12, the same year. It was commissioned on December 16, 1944, under Capt. John J. Mockrish’s command with the hull number APA-103 and served in the US Navy for 2 years until it was decommissioned on June 10, 1946. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 476 people on board and had its main missions in Norfolk, Iwo Jima, Hilo, Guam, Eniwetok, Everett, and Sasebo. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on June 19, 1946. The following year, the USS Queens was sold to American Export Lines and renamed Excambion and in 2007, the ship was sunk as an artificial reef.

Asbestos fibers are tiny and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Still, they can be breathed in or ingested, and lead to deadly cancers much later in life. If you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dry cough, and wheezing, or are concerned you may have been exposed to asbestos, seek advice from your GP or other health professional.