The USS Riley (DE-579) was a Rudderow-class destroyer escort laid down on October 20, 1943, and launched on December 29, the same year. It was commissioned on March 13, 1944, under Lt. Cmdr. H. D. Johnson’s command as DE-579 and served in the U.S. Navy for 3 years until it was decommissioned on January 15, 1947. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 186 people on board and had its main missions in Norfolk, Hingham, New Guinea, Hollandia, Korea, Lingayen, Okinawa, and China. After decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on June 29, 1948, and sold to Taiwan where it was renamed ROCS Tai Yuan DE-27. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Riley received 2 battle stars. In the early 20th century, the U.S. Navy used large quantities of asbestos products due to their durability, low cost, heat resistance, and fireproof capabilities until the products were eventually phased out in the 1970s. However, this has put many U.S. Navy veterans at high risk of later developing an asbestos disease, such as lung cancer, bronchial cancer, mesothelioma, colon/rectal cancer, throat/esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, plus many other types of pulmonary issues.
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