Named after the city of Vincennes, Indiana, the ship was a Cleveland-class light cruiser laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in 1942. It operated during the second half of World War II and, for the outstanding achievements of the USS Vincennes crew, it earned 6 battle stars. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. Arthur A. Osborn and had Captain Arthur D. Brown in command throughout the armed conflict. Because it was built in the middle of the last century, the USS Vincennes contained asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that is carcinogenic to humans. It was primarily present in the insulation of the vessel. Exposure to asbestos, which inevitably occurred in everyone who served aboard this ship, happens when a person inhales or ingests the tiny fibers of the mineral and can later result in terrible diseases such as lung cancer or mesothelioma. Therefore, veterans who served on the USS Vincennes should undergo regular medical examinations. In 1969, the ship was sunk as a target.
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