The USS Tomich (DE-242) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort laid down on September 15, 1942, and launched on December 28, the same year. It was commissioned on July 27, 1946, under Lt. Cmdr. H. A. Hull’s command as DE-242 and served in the U.S. Navy for 3 years until it was decommissioned on September 20, 1946. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 209 people on board and had its main missions in Texas, Norfolk, Bermuda, Charleston, New York, Pearl Harbor, and Bonins. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on November 1, 1972, and sold for scrapping in 1974. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Tomich received one battle star. Because of the prevalent use of asbestos fireproofing and insulation in the poorly ventilated interiors of ships, Navy service members have been among the most affected by asbestos exposure. If you have a history of exposure to asbestos and you are experiencing increasing shortness of breath and persistent cough, you may be eligible for VA benefits and health care if you meet the eligibility criteria.
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