The USS Savage (DE-386) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort laid down on April 30, 1943, and launched on July 15, the same year. It was commissioned on October 29, 1943, under Lt. Comdr. Oscar C. Rohnke’s command with the hull number DE-386 and served in the U.S. Navy for 26 years until it was decommissioned on October 17, 1969. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 209 people on board and had its main missions in Norfolk, Boston, Pearl Harbor, Seattle, New York, the Far East, Okinawa, Tsingtao, and Green Cove Springs. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on June 1, 1975, and used as a target ship during training exercises in 1982. Chrysotile or white asbestos - the most commonly encountered form of asbestos was used for insulation, tape, packing, and gaskets, while amosite asbestos - often referred to as brown asbestos - was often used for insulation. Unfortunately, in performing specific duties, such as maintenance and repair jobs, many Navy veterans were exposed to asbestos, which is a toxic, carcinogenic substance. It had wide use on ships and other military vessels before the health effects related to the inhalation of asbestos fibers were widely known.
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