The USS Wilkes-Barre (CL-103) was a Cleveland-class light cruiser laid down on December 14, 1942, and launched on December 24, the following year. It was commissioned on July 1, 1944, under Capt. Robert L. Porter’s command with the hull number CL-103 and served in the U.S. Navy for 3 years until it was decommissioned on October 9, 1947. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 1,255 people on board and had its main missions in Pearl Harbor, San Pedro, Ulithi, Tokyo, Guantanamo, Honshu, Norfolk, Jinsen, Plymouth, Bergen, and Tsingtao. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on January 15, 1971, and sunk during training exercises the following year. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Wilkes-Barre received 4 battle stars. Asbestos is a flame retardant and cheap fibrous mineral that can be used in many different products and materials, which made it popular among manufacturers since the early 20th century. Even 40 years after initial contact, Navy veterans can develop a persistent cough due to scar tissue forming in the lungs over time. We remain committed to providing quality assistance to veterans who served on military ships during the heyday of asbestos.
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