The USS Russell County (LST-1090) was a LST-542-class tank landing ship laid down in 1944, launched, and commissioned in 1945. The vessel served in the US Navy during World War II and was transferred to the Indonesian Navy as KRI Tandjung Radja (2). While in the US Navy, the ship was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater. She was also part of the occupation forces in the Far East from September 1945 until January 1946. The vessel was decommissioned in 1946 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group until her recommissioning for the Korean War in 1950. Under the Military Assistance Program, she was assigned to Indonesia in 1961, where she served as Tandjung Radja (2). Between World War II and the late 1970s, asbestos was commonly used in the construction of Navy vessels due to its insulation and fireproofing properties. While this made it valuable for shipbuilding, it exposed naval personnel to the mineral’s toxic fibers and led to the development of severe illnesses stemming from their exposure. Even today, those involved in the dismantling or repair of these aging ships are still at risk of lung cancer, bronchial cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases.
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