The USS San Juan (CL-54) was an Atlanta-class light cruiser laid down on May 15, 1940, and launched on September 6, the following year. It was commissioned on February 28, 1942, under Capt. James E. Maher’s command with the hull number CL-54 and served in the U.S. Navy for 4 years until it was decommissioned on November 9, 1946. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 820 people on board and had its main missions in Luzon, San Diego, Ulithi, Leyte, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Guam, Nansei Shoto, Nagoya, and Formosa. After decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on May 1, 1959, and sold for scrapping in 1961 to the National Metal and Steel Corporation in Los Angeles. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS San Juan received 13 battle stars. Asbestos is a human carcinogen and the given term for six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals separate into small fibers that are strong, flexible, and very resistant to heat, chemicals, and corrosion. Asbestos fibers can be easily inhaled in the form of dust and carried into the lower lung regions where they can cause a range of health issues. Long-term exposure to asbestos yields negative health outcomes that will often not appear until 10 to 40 years after the initial exposure.
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