The USS Silverstein (DE-534) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort laid down on October 8, 1943, and launched on November 8, the same year. It was commissioned on July 14, 1944, under Lt. Cmdr. F. A. Reece’s command was DE-534 and served in the U.S. Navy for 11 years until it was decommissioned on January 30, 1959. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 215 people on board and had its main missions in Bermuda, Miami, Boston, Ulithi, Hong Kong, Midway, Yokosuka, Sasebo, and San Pedro. After decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on December 1, 1972, and sold for scrapping to Levin Metals Corporation in San Jose the following year. For the services brought to the country, the USS Silverstein received 5 battle stars. Out of all branches of the U.S. Military, the Navy used the highest amounts of asbestos-containing materials. The mineral was used in the construction of ships and submarines, and it could also be found in very large quantities in shipyards. This puts Navy veterans at the highest risk of developing severe asbestos-related illnesses such as lung cancer, bronchial cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.
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